SRINAGAR: The Enforcement Wing of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Sunday demolished some exterior portions of a shopping complex in the Hawal area of Srinagar district, news gathering agency KNS reported. However, PDP President and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed resentment and said “the action was taken without any prior notice”.
PDP Youth leader Sheikh Zaid’s building was bulldozed without any prior notice. This happened immediately after he organised PDP meetings. Unfortunately official machinery is being misused at the behest of mischievous elements to settle political scores. Request @manojsinha_ ji… pic.twitter.com/7waxJEd90z
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) May 5, 2024
Reports said that enforcement wing officials reached the spot to carry out the demolition drive after obtaining formal permission. The team with the help of JCB demolished some portion of the footpath allegedly encroached by the shopping mall owner, namely Sheikh Zaid who is reportedly associated with the Peoples Democratic Party. The news gatherer said the SMC had got formal permission as well.
However, PDP chief and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed strong resentment after the video of the drive went viral on social media.
She alleged that the building was bulldozed without any prior notice and accused officials of getting misused at the hands of “mischievous” elements to settle political scores. She requested Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to take note of the incident. She uploaded the video on her Twitter saying the “official machinery is being misused at the behest of mischievous elements to settle political scores”.
Chief Enforcement Officer SMC Mudasir Banday told the news gatherer that the building owner had encroached exterior path which was demolished. “We acted upon a complaint as the building owner has encroached footpath which is meant for pedestrians. However, it was retrieved in the drive,” he added.
Zaid had joined PDP in August 2023.
(The Photograph used in the news report is merely representational and not linked with the incident.)
