Bandipora, Nov 18,: The district administration in Bandipora on Tuesday sealed thirteen shops and one commercial complex at Gulshan Chowk, stating that the structures had been raised on state land. The move triggered strong anger and concern among local traders, who alleged that the action was taken without any prior notice.
Shopkeepers told news agency Kashmir News Trust that the sudden closure had pushed their families into distress, saying their businesses were their only source of income. They questioned the manner in which the administration executed the sealing drive and said the step had created deep uncertainty about their future.
Shamshad Ahmad, District President of the Traders Federation Bandipora, said the authorities should have issued notices before carrying out the operation. He claimed that several shopkeepers possess valid registrations issued by the revenue department.
“If these shops are really on state land, then why were we registered and allowed to construct buildings over the last four to five years,” he asked. He said traders had invested large sums in setting up their establishments and were now being told to vacate everything at once. He added that completing the legal process may take months.
Ahmad urged the administration to provide an alternative arrangement, observing that multiple families had been earning their livelihood from these business units for nearly seven decades.
MLA Bandipora Nizamuddin Bhat, who visited the area, sharply criticized the sealing operation. He said ordinary citizens should not be treated like criminals and described the action as a harsh step. Bhat asked who would compensate the shopkeepers for the losses they will suffer while vacating the premises and shifting their merchandise.
He appealed to the administration to deal with such matters sensitively and to give priority to dialogue, particularly when long-standing businesses and livelihoods are involved. [KNT]
