SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered 19 FIRs against house and land owners in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir for allegedly failing to comply with mandatory tenant verification norms, officials said on Monday.
The cases were registered at Samba and Bari Brahmana police stations during a special verification drive launched to strengthen security measures and ensure strict implementation of tenant verification guidelines.
According to officials, the drive focused on verifying the credentials of outsiders residing as tenants and those employed as domestic helpers in the district. During the operation, police found several instances where property owners had rented out accommodations without furnishing the required details to the authorities.
A police spokesperson said that 13 FIRs were registered at Bari Brahmana Police Station, while six cases were lodged at Samba Police Station under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The action was initiated following standing directions issued by the District Magistrate, Samba, making police verification of tenants mandatory. Despite repeated instructions, the concerned house and land owners failed to adhere to the prescribed norms, prompting legal action against them.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Samba, Anuj Kumar, appealed to all house and land owners to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by promptly submitting complete details of their tenants and domestic workers at the nearest police station.
He stressed that timely tenant verification plays a crucial role in maintaining law and order and helps prevent the misuse of rented accommodations by anti-social or criminal elements.
The verification drive assumes added significance in view of the forthcoming annual Shri Amarnath Yatra. The crackdown came shortly after the SSP reviewed security arrangements in Bari Brahmana and inspected lodgement centres designated for pilgrims, besides assessing security deployment and operational preparedness along the National Highway.
Police have reiterated their appeal to the public to strictly follow tenant verification procedures, warning that any future violations will invite stringent legal action.(KNC)
