A Hindu neighbour on Friday (November 28, 2025) came forward with a plot of land for the Muslim journalist whose house was demolished by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) on Thursday (November 27, 2025). Several political parties and civil society groups visited the family to condemn “selective targeting”.
Also read: Journalist’s house demolished in Jammu; PDP, CPI(M) condemn move
Kuldeep Sharma, a resident of Jammu’s Narwal, offered land to journalist Arfaz Daing, whose house constructed 40 years ago was demolished by the JDA for “being on encroached land” a day ago. JDA is headed by Vice Chairman Rupesh Kumar, appointed by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the position.
“The JDA has demolished his house built on three marlas (0.01875 acres). I have decided to hand over five marlas (0.0312501 acres) of land. I could not stand the fact that the entire family, including kids, had to live under the open sky. Those who demolished the house are heartless people. They (JDA) will try to demolish a house on five marlas, I will offer 10 marlas. No one will be allowed to harm Jammu’s brotherhood and harmony,” Mr. Sharma said.
Mr. Sharma criticised the BJP’s “divisive politics”.
“How long will we continue with this Hindu-Muslim hate politics?” Mr. Sharma said. He asked J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to step down “if he is unable to exercise authority over the government departments”.
Senior BJP leader Ravinder Raina also visited the house of the scribe and condemned the JDA’s move to demolish the house without serving any notice. “We do not support demolitions. We stand with the family. In India, humanity, unity, and brotherhood come before politics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji believes in constructing houses for the poor and not to demolish any,” Mr. Raina said.
Former J&K Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti also criticised the JDA. “These aren’t the homes of helpless Muslim families in UP or elsewhere where targeting minorities has become the norm. This is J&K where Arfaz a journalist who built a modest home 40 years ago on 3 marlas of land saw it being crushed to rubble in seconds,” Ms. Mufti said.
She said the NC government recently dismissed the PDP’s anti-bulldozer Bill by branding these residents as land grabbers. “Today the brutal consequences of that decision are for all to see,” Ms. Mufti said.
Meanwhile, scores of representatives of different communities and civil society groups visited the scribe’s demolished house to express their solidarity, including members of the Madadgaar Humanity Foundation; former DIG Ashok Aatri; ex-Corporator Sobat Ali Choudhary; Congress leader and ex-minister Raman Bhalla; Shia Federation Jammu Province president Ashiq Hussain and lawyers’ body headed by advocate Sheikh Shakeel.
“Judiciary should take suo motu cognisance. First build the house and then follow due process to demolish it. In fact, demolish all the houses built on encroached land in Jammu but not in selective actions. We need to focus more on Jammu, where crime rate is going up and women find it unsafe now,” Advocate Supriya Singh Chouhan said.
Ms. Chouhan said the officers from outside “have no emotional connection with the place but local officers need to side with their own people and avoid illegal actions”. “Demolition has become a fashionable act. However, it has a long-term impact. How will the child whose house was demolished will feel when he grows up?” Ms. Chouhan said.
The scribe, Daing, is known for his journalism on illegal supply of narcotics and the alleged involvement of officials, including policemen, in the racket in Jammu.
Published – November 29, 2025 03:28 am IST
