Bandipora: The Sub-District Administration Sonawari in North Kashmir district on Monday sealed a two-storey shopping complex at Shadipora in Bandipora district, citing alleged encroachment on state-owned Shamlaat land, officials said.
Revenue officials said the structure was found to have been raised illegally on government land and the sealing action was taken to prevent further unauthorised construction. The move comes days after a similar complex in Bandipora town was sealed as part of a wider anti-encroachment drive launched by the district administration.
The owner of the complex, contested the action and claimed that a portion of the land belongs to him legally.
Speaking to reporters, the owner said he approached both the district administration and the divisional administration after receiving a notice. He claimed that out of the total land, 3.5 marlas are his proprietary property and urged authorities to demarcate his portion.
He said he has no objection if any section of the building is found to be on state land but insisted that his legally owned land should be clearly identified and excluded from sealing.
Khan also questioned why no objection was raised by officials when the building was being constructed. He alleged that the sudden sealing pointed to administrative failure during earlier stages of construction and called for a transparent inquiry.
When contacted, officials did not provide an on-record response. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate Sumbal directed queries to the Tehsildar Sumbal, while the Tehsildar advised contacting the Deputy Commissioner Bandipora. Deputy Commissioner Indu Kanwal Chib, however, declined to comment over the phone. [KNT]
