Srinagar, Feb 09: Authorities took possession of a commercial building belonging to close relatives of a senior BJP leader in Kashmir on Thursday. According to revenue officials, it was built on state land in the Srigufwara area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
A revenue official told Rising Kashmir that they took custody of an encroached land measuring 25 marlas of Khachari land at Srigufwara, Bijbehera, on which a commercial building was allegedly raised by ex MLC and vice President BJP JK, Sofi Yousuf, and his brother Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi at Main Market Srigufwara.
“The commercial complex was seized as part of the eviction drive launched by the administration to retrieve state land from encroachers,” he said.
District Information Officer, Anantnag Alfaq Ahmad said that around 50 shops including a commercial complex have been sealed in the district on Thursday as part of an ongoing drive against encroachers.
“I did not have particular details about each encroacher but it is confirmed that around 50 shops were seized in the area by the administration,” he said.
The building, which has 20 shops, was first seized by Revenue Department as it was found that it was constructed on state land.
Vice President BJP, Sofi Yousuf acknowledged that the complex has been seized by the authorities. He, however, refuted the allegations that the commercial complex was built on state land.
“On Friday we will approach the court and produce our documents, they will be handover back soon. It is built on 10 Marlas of land and belonged to our relatives,” he said.
Yousuf said his family is also living in the same area. ‘’There are some people in the area that had some issues with my political career. Now they are spreading false allegations about my family but I have full faith in the law and will get justice from the court, ‘’he said.
