DLM Garbi Rashid Dar on Ground as JDA Reclaims 23 Kanals; Stern Warning Issued: Encroach Again & Face FIR, Strict Action
- Signalling a new era of aggressive, zero-tolerance enforcement, Jammu Development Authority (JDA) Vice Chairman, Rupesh Kumar, IAS, personally directed the demolition of an illegal boundary wall in Paloura, successfully reclaiming 23 Kanals of prime JDA land (Khasra No. 1080) that a defiant land mafia had rebuilt overnight.
- The decisive operation, executed on the ground by Director Land Management (DLM) Garbi Rashid Dar with police assistance, comes after a period of intense confrontation where JDA officials, including Tehsildar Rashi Dutta and when a Patwari, was manhandled and threatened by the encroachers.
- Since taking charge, VC Rupesh Kumar has spearheaded a ruthless anti-encroachment campaign across Jammu, including in Paloura, Sidhra, and Bishnah, with a clear and strict directive to his administration: retrieve every inch of JDA land and book any land grabber who dares to re-encroach.
MOHIT MEHRA
Jammu, August 06, 2025: In a powerful and unambiguous display of administrative resolve, the Jammu Development Authority (JDA), under the decisive leadership of its new Vice Chairman, Rupesh Kumar, IAS, has demolished an illegally constructed boundary wall in Paloura, reclaiming 23 Kanals and 13 Marlas of prime land that a defiant land mafia had brazenly re-occupied overnight. This well-coordinated operation, executed on the ground by the Director Land Management (DLM) with robust police support, is not just a routine demolition; it is a clear statement of intent from the JDA’s new leadership that the era of surrendering to the land mafia is over.
The targeted site, prime JDA land falling under Khasra No. 1080 in Paloura, had become a symbol of the land mafia’s audacity. The situation had escalated dramatically in recent days after a JDA team, led by Tehsildar Rashi Dutta, was met with extreme hostility, culminating in the manhandling of a JDA Patwari. Despite a joint demarcation proving JDA’s ownership and the issuance of a formal show-cause notice on August 4, 2025, the encroachers displayed utter contempt for the law by rebuilding the wall under the cover of darkness, directly challenging the JDA’s authority.
Taking immediate and serious cognizance of this violation, Vice Chairman Rupesh Kumar ordered a comprehensive enforcement operation. A JDA team, led on the ground by Director Land Management Garbi Rashid Dar and backed by the District Administration and local police to prevent any law-and-order disruptions, moved in with machinery and completely dismantled the illegal structure. The land was successfully and decisively restored to the JDA’s possession.
This successful retrieval is a significant victory and a direct reflection of the new, aggressive anti-encroachment strategy being implemented since VC Rupesh Kumar took charge. Upon joining, he had issued strict and clear directives to his administration: identify and retrieve every inch of encroached JDA land across the district. This renewed vigour has already seen successful drives in areas like Paloura, Sidhra, and Bishnah, unsettling entrenched land grabbers who had previously operated with a sense of impunity.
The Vice Chairman’s office has now issued a stern and final warning to all land grabbers. The message is unequivocal: the JDA will not only demolish illegal structures but will also pursue strict legal action, including the immediate lodging of FIRs, against anyone who attempts to re-encroach on retrieved government land. The JDA, under its new leadership, has made it clear that it is resolute in its commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting public assets from misuse and illegal occupation, signalling a new, no-nonsense chapter in its fight against the land mafia.
