Waheed Para Slams Shopian Demolition, Calls It ‘Bulldozer Justice’ Without Due Process | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and MLA Pulwama, Waheed Ur Rehman Para, on Saturday criticised the demolition of a structure in the Keegam area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, terming it “bulldozer justice” and cautioning against actions taken without due process.

For many Kashmiris, the protection of land and property was not just an election issue, it’s personal, existential. Perhaps the only reason many voted was to safeguard their livelihood and ancestral inheritance.

Bulldozer justice without procedure, or due process is not… pic.twitter.com/xUL4pzUEYt

— Waheed Ur Rehman Para (@parawahid) May 8, 2026

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Para said issues related to land and property in Jammu and Kashmir are closely tied to people’s identity, livelihood and sense of security. He added that for many residents, protection of land is not only a political concern but also an existential one.

Para said many citizens participated in the electoral process with expectations that their land, property and ancestral rights would be legally safeguarded.

Referring to the demolition in Keegam, he alleged that the action was carried out despite representations made before revenue authorities. He said such measures without proper procedure or legal safeguards set a “dangerous precedent”.

He further described the displacement of families from long-established homes as inhumane, warning that such actions could increase public anxiety over land ownership and residential security.

Linking the incident to broader policy issues, Para said the case underlined the need for a land regularisation framework in Jammu and Kashmir to protect economically weaker sections and families residing on disputed or undocumented land.

He added that the absence of legal safeguards could lead to continued demolition drives and social distress, and reiterated the demand for a clear policy addressing land rights and regularisation.

The remarks come amid ongoing political debate in Jammu and Kashmir over anti-encroachment operations, land verification drives, and demolition actions in several districts. While authorities maintain that such measures are carried out in accordance with law, opposition leaders and affected residents have repeatedly raised concerns over due process and humanitarian impact.