JAMMU — Following the summary demolition of 32 tribal structures in Sidra on May 19, an elected minister has advised forest officials to 'first understand the law.' This guidance comes after a BJP MLA led public protests on May 13, demanding action against 'illegal occupants' and 'outsider land-grabbers' in the same area, a call which was apparently heard and acted upon with considerable alacrity.

The minister, a prominent Gujjar leader, emphasized that 'eligible beneficiaries must be made fully aware of their legal and constitutional rights,' warning against 'mischievous attempts by officers' who proceed without consulting the elected government. Meanwhile, forest officials maintain that 'due legal procedure' was followed, a procedure that evidently does not include informing or consulting the minister responsible for their department.

This latest exercise in 'rule of law' follows a pattern seen since at least March 2023, when the administration acknowledged 17,22,995 kanals of state land and 3,77,000 kanals of forest land under 'illegal occupation.' Officials assure the public that while the demolitions target vulnerable tribal communities, the broader goal is to assert control over land, thereby streamlining future development and asserting administrative prerogative over elected representation. The administration remains committed to protecting the land, particularly from those who have lived on it for generations without the proper, recently updated paperwork.

An official speaking on condition of anonymity from a brightly lit, air-conditioned office stated that the administration 'supports both the spirit and the letter of the law, especially when it facilitates immediate action against certain populations after specific political demands are made.'