J&K minister Javed Rana accuses L-G of ‘targeted demolitions against Gujjars, Bakarwals’ in Jammu, ‘will not be silent spectators’

A massive demolition attempt on the nomadic Gujjar and Bakarwal community, allegedly carried out by the Lieutenant Governor’s administration in Jammu on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, sparked protests from ruling National Conference (NC) ministers and legislators, with Cabinet minister Javed Rana terming it a “targeted and brutal eviction aimed at terrorizing and marginalizing our nomadic tribe”.

A joint team of the Forest Department along with a large team of J&K Police marched towards Jammu’s Raika Bandi district with earth movers, officials said. Eyewitnesses said that 32 buildings spread over approximately 3 hectares of land close to the forests were destroyed during the demolition work, which lasted about 4 hours. Authorities said it was an attempt to counter rape, and residents disputed that claim.

“We have been living here for decades. Today they came with machines. I was not even allowed to complete my prayers. The machines destroyed my house in a few minutes,” a local resident told J&K minister Rana, who toured the region on Tuesday evening, May 19, 2026.

Local people told the Minister that the demolition work was carried out under the pretext of a campaign against drug traffickers. “How can they (authorities) demolish all the houses to punish a few alleged drug dealers in the area?” said another local.

The demolition attempt led to harsh reactions and protests from regional parties in J&K. Cabinet Minister Rana, who holds the Forest and Tribal Affairs portfolio, said he was “shocked and angered by the secret, unilateral demolition of houses in Sidhra, Jammu by the LG administration”.

“The decades-old legacy of our innocent Gujjar-Bakarwal families has been reduced to rubble without any trust in the elected, popular Government or my Ministry,” Mr. Rana said.

He said this was “not just a regulatory initiative.” “This is a targeted, brutal eviction clearly aimed at terrorizing and marginalizing our nomadic tribal communities who have protected these lands for over half a century. We will not stand by silently by this selective harassment and bullying,” Mr. Rana said.

He said the evacuees had voter cards, ration cards and even electricity supply. He said the matter would be discussed with Prime Minister Omar Abdullah, demanding “an immediate halt, institutional investigation of the officers and officials responsible, and full rehabilitation of the affected families.” “Our people deserve justice, not displacement,” he added.

NC Member of Parliament (MP) Mian Altaf demanded “action against the officials involved in the demolition attempt”. “These people have been alive for over fifty years. They were harassed without any reason. No notice was given to them. The Supreme Court issued an order not to use bulldozers. This fueled anger. They want compensation and apology,” Mr. Altaf said.

J&K People’s Conference chief Sajad Lone said this was a “disturbing development”. “Can the government, for once, please approach the issue with the seriousness it deserves and explain who gave the order for the demolition? If not them, who? So what will they do about it? Because I remember this government putting on a theater of wailing and crying over the demolitions in Jammu,” Mr. Lone said.

Aditya Gupta, leader of the People’s Democratic Party, said the demolition drive “once again exposes the system that protects the powerful while oppressing the poor.” “Influential people continue to remain untouched, but the small houses of the struggling families of the two Marlas are being ruthlessly razed to the ground,” Mr Gupta said.

He said: “If big hotels have been regularized and crushers have been allowed to operate on Jammu Development Authority land, why is the dignity of ordinary citizens being denied?” “The PDP land regularization bill was precisely aimed at stopping this selective injustice. My heart goes out to the children and families made homeless by the NC-BJP nexus,” Mr. Gupta said.