Footage of a group of officials demolishing a few constructions is viral on social media. A JCB earthmover and a group of officials can be seen wrecking some structures in the one minute thirty-nine seconds long footage. In some part of the footage, a few locals are seen trying to stop the officials. The footage is viral on social media with the claim that it is of the official demolition of illegal constructions of Rohingyas in Jammu and Kashmir. One of the posts on Twitter says, “As per the Roshni Act, the colonies of Rohingya Jihadis are being razed in Jammu and Kashmir”.
In reality it was a footage from June 5, where Lakes and Waterways Development Authority conducted continuous demolition drives through its Enforcement Wing. The drives demolished several illegal constructions/encroachments under the supervision of the Enforcement Officer. The demolition took place in the area of Lashkari Mohalla, Doji Mohalla, Burzhama, Wangut Teilbal, and Nishat of Srinagar.Such demolition drives have been taking place in the area for the past few years to conserve Dal Lake, shrinking due to raging illegal constructions/encroachments along its bank. Zee News, India Today, and TV9 also reported the demolition of illegal constructions/encroachments in May. Abdul Aziz Qadri, the enforcement officer, told Boom that the claims regarding the viral footage are false. Qadri said, “They are local people of Srinagar. They are constructing illegal constructions alongside Dal lake, which is a green belt, and any sort of construction there is prohibited.”
