Shopian: Eviction drive turns Violent, 5 media persons, several people  among forest employees Injured.

Shopian / Mudasir Maqbool  : In South Kashmir’s Zampathri forest area of Shopian district where eviction drive launched by forest department turned violent in which 18 persons including five journalists were injured on Monday.Eviction drive turned violent after people from Gujjar community resisted the drive  where exchange of heated argument between officials and people led to a scuffle resulting injuries on both sides.Source told, several employees, people among 5 Media persons were injured who reached there for professional duty of coverage of this drive.Journalists as well as Officials were made hostage in a fenced area of PHE department and rescued laterby police.The journalists who received minor injuries include Aijaz Ahmad Dar (Zee news), Irshad Ahmad (News18), Shahid Tak (ETV Bharat), Nazir Wani (Punjab Kesari) and Firdous Ahmad (News Nation).We are being evicted from our own land which we have used from centuries it belongs to us and they are trying to evict us said,local Gujjars while talking to news reporter .A Tribal Activist in a tweet said, Gujjars were ruthlessly beaten by officials of forest Departmant at Zampathri during a forest eviction drive,not Understanding where Implementation of FRA is going why tribals are being harnessed.Meanwhile media Fraternity across the  valley condemned this unfortunate incident of attacking Journalist’s while doing there  professional duties,One of working Journalist association from Bandipora in statement told that, it has been seriously noted and such Miscreants should be put to severe task.District Forest Officer (DFO), Mohammad Ayoub told News Agency qouted as that we asked police to register FIR against Mob who attacked forest officials who were following court orders.The Community failed to prove the claim of land belonging them and the department following rules to evict encroachers from the forest area which unfortunately was attacked by people he said,