SSM demolition row, management of college blames a former minister
By: Wani Parvaiz CK
Srinagar
While the government agencies assisted by police have demolished some structures of SSM College of Engineering and Technology Parihaspora in Baramulla district on Tuesday, the management of the college has blamed a former minister for this act.
The management alleged that at the behest of Imran Raza Ansari who has a lot of land near the college and has remained a former minister was behind the act of the administration.
According to the KNT reporting about the incident at the college, it has said in its report that noisy scenes were witnessed in and around the college at Parihaspora Pattan when district administration officials assisted by police appeared outside the college to demolish some alleged illegal structures.
Pertinently, the college administration and former minister Imran Raza Ansari, are at loggerheads over several acres of disputed land. In the past also there were incidents of violence reported in the area between the parties.
On Monday late evening a demolition squad headed by Tehsildar Pattan demolished a structure of the college. When College authorities alleged that some officials from the administration were doing it on the behest of Imran Raza Ansari and the videos about the demolition went viral, the government attached the concerned Tehsildar immediately.
The attached Tehsildar Pattan Mr Salahuddin told news agency Kashmir News Trust that demolition drive was carried out on the directions of top brass and there is nothing personal in it.
On Tuesday a team led by SDM Pattan Syed Faheem arrived on the spot and again demolished some structures, sparking protests from the students of the college. Police in order to maintain law and order sealed the entry and exit points.
Dilafroze Qazi, chairperson SSM college alleged that demolition drive was carried out on the behest of Imran Raza Ansari. She said all is being done on the orders of Ansari.
“Why the officials from the administration didn’t show the demolition order if it has been issued from the top. Why were structures raised to ground without showing any official order to us,” she questioned and sought intervention of LG government and District Development Commissioner Baramulla.
Despite repeated attempts, Imran Raza Ansari couldn’t be contacted, however, Abid Raza Ansari told KNT that Imran Ansari has nothing to do with this matter. “The Revenue Department has also issued a notice against us and we are ready to prove that we are not possessing any portion of state land. Government has started a drive to free state land from the occupiers and we welcome it and are ready to cooperate,” he said.
He further said that SSM College owners have grabbed state land illegally. “It is not a charitable trust but they are doing business and maximizing profits,” Abid Ansari said and vehemently refuted the allegations that Imaran Ansari had any hand in it. “He (Imran Ansari) is out of station and doesn’t know anything about it,” Abid Ansari said.
SDM Pattan Syed Faheem was not available for comments as he was busy in a court proceeding.
With inputs from KNT
