The demolition of Gujjar hutments, locally known as Kothas, by the authorities has caused an uproar in Kashmir. The nomadic tribes of Gujjars inhabit these seasonal hutments in the forests, primarily during the summer season, and then migrate to other regions during winter.
The authorities have cited encroachment as the reason for the demolitions, while Gujjars have called for the implementation of the Central Forest Rights Act that recognizes the symbiotic relationship between them and the jungle. This article discusses the demolition of these hutments and the implications it has on the tribal population.
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| The recent demolition of Gujjar hutments in Kashmir has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the displacement of indigenous communities in the region. |
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The Law of the Jungle
On November 9, the authorities started dismantling the Kothas of Gujjars in Lidroo village, Pahalgam. Abdul Aziz Khatana, a labourer, received a phone call from his wife informing him about the demolition of their hutment. He returned to his village and saw that the structure had been razed to the ground.
Khatana said that he was living with his family members in the hutment, which was built by his grandparents. He also stated that it takes weeks of work and around one lakh rupees to construct a single Kotha. Khatana's Kotha was among the thirty Kothas in Lidroo village that were demolished that day.
The authorities claimed that they had retrieved land from "illegal occupants." They issued notices in various areas, asking people to clear the land that had been illegally occupied.
In Tral's upper reaches, a similar notice was served to the tribal population. The Gujjar community claims that they have been living in the forests for ages and are the first line of defence to protect the environment. When there are forest fires, they are the ones who douse them. They have always had a symbiotic relationship with the forests.
Fear Psychosis
The demolition of Kothas has created a fear psychosis among the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities. Mohamad Yousuf Gorse, a resident of Lidroo, now fears any movement in his locality.
After the news of Kothas' demolition broke out, people from different sections of society visited the place, including politicians, community leaders, and concerned citizens. Among them was Talib Hussain, a leader of the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities.
He said that the villagers fled their homes when he reached there, thinking that some team had come to dismantle their homes again. Such is the fear among the people that they even fear people from their own tribe now.
Jammu Issues
Talib Hussain stated that a narrative had been built in Jammu region that if Gujjar and Bakerwals were allowed to avail forest rights, it would result in a demographic change in the non-Muslim majority districts of Jammu, Sambha, Kathua, and Udhampur.
He mentioned that in 2016, in Kathua, the severed head of a cow was thrown into the premises of Haji Alam Din's house, and right-wing people, along with the police, attacked him. This was done under proper surveillance to harass the tribal people and usurp their lands.
Conclusion
The demolition of Kothas has led to an outcry in Kashmir and calls for the implementation of the Central Forest Rights Act. The Gujjar community has a symbiotic relationship with the forests and has been living in them for ages.
The authorities claim that they have retrieved land from "illegal occupants." However, the Gujjar community believes that they are the first line of defence to protect the environment and have always had a symbiotic relationship with the forests. The demolition of Kothas has created a fear psychosis among the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities.
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