Tehsildar Rashi Dutta Issues Eviction Notice, Alleges Unprecedented Hostility; JDA Patwari Manhandled as Land Grabbers Defy Stop-Work Orders, Construct Room Under Cover of Darkness
JDA’s anti-encroachment drive in Paloura turned violent as officials, led by Tehsildar Rashi Dutta, faced unprecedented hostility, with a JDA Patwari being manhandled by encroachers; the Tehsildar has vowed to file an FIR against the assailants.
Despite a JDA team stopping illegal construction on 23 Kanals of prime JDA land and a joint demarcation confirming it as JDA property, the land mafia brazenly resumed work overnight, constructing a room and defying all administrative authority.
Tehsildar Rashi Dutta has now issued a formal show-cause notice under the Public Premises Act to the alleged encroacher, giving him until August 11, 2025, to prove his claim, while also directing the SHO Janipur to stop all illegal construction and filing a caveat to prevent the mafia from securing a stay order.
jj correspondent
Jammu, August 04, 2025: The battle for control over prime JDA land in Paloura has escalated into an open war, with a powerful and defiant land mafia not only illegally continuing construction on retrieved land but also physically assaulting a JDA official during a site visit. In a shocking display of lawlessness, encroachers manhandled a JDA Patwari and then, under the cover of darkness, brazenly resumed illegal construction on a 23-Kanal plot just hours after a JDA team, led by Tehsildar Rashi Dutta, had halted the work. The administration has responded by issuing a formal eviction notice and vowing to file an FIR against the assailants, setting the stage for a major confrontation.
The high-drama unfolded when Tehsildar JDA, Rashi Dutta, acting on complaints, led a team to a site in Paloura where an illegal boundary wall was being constructed. A joint demarcation was conducted on the spot with both the JDA and Revenue Patwaris present, which, according to the Tehsildar, conclusively proved that the land in question is “pure JDA land” measuring 23 Kanals and 13 Marlas.
However, the JDA team was met with extreme hostility. Tehsildar Dutta stated that she has conducted numerous demolition drives in areas like Sidhra and Nagrota without any police presence and has never faced such resistance. “Here in Paloura, it feels like a nexus has been formed to instigate and threaten government employees,” she said. This hostility culminated in the alleged manhandling of the JDA Patwari. “It is unacceptable that a public servant is assaulted while on duty. We have prepared a full report, and we will be writing to the police tomorrow to register an FIR against those who manhandled our Patwari,” the Tehsildar affirmed.
Despite the JDA team’s intervention and clear stop-work orders, the land mafia displayed its utter contempt for the law. As per sources, a complainant sent an urgent WhatsApp message late at night, around 10:00 PM, to the JDA Vice Chairman and other senior officers, saying that construction had resumed under the cover of darkness and a new room was being built on the site.
Tehsildar Dutta, in her capacity as Estate Officer, has issued a formal show-cause notice under Section 4 of the J&K Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1988, to the alleged primary encroacher. The notice (No. JDA/TEH-A/EO/114-19 dated August 4, 2025) states that he has illegally constructed a boundary wall on JDA land and calls upon him to appear in person or through a representative on August 11, 2025, at 11:30 AM to show cause why an eviction order should not be made. The notice has been pasted at the site and a copy has been sent to the SHO Janipur with a clear direction to stop the illegal construction immediately and submit a compliance report.
Understanding the mafia’s likely next move, the JDA is also taking pre-emptive legal action. “We have initiated the process to file a caveat in court to ensure they cannot get an ex-parte stay order against us. The caveat will be filed tomorrow morning,” Tehsildar Dutta confirmed. She explained that while the JDA respects court orders, in this case, the land grabbers cannot claim victimhood as a proper eviction process has been initiated, giving them a chance to be heard. “We are not a party to any private dispute they may have. We are here to protect our land,” she asserted.
This incident has now become a critical test of the JDA’s authority. With a defiant land mafia, an assaulted official, and illegal construction continuing in the dead of night, the administration is under immense pressure to move beyond notices and demonstrate that it can and will break this nexus. The public is watching to see if this will be another case where the system surrenders, or if the JDA will make an example of these land grabbers and any officials who might be colluding with them.
