‘Shoot the traitors’ slogan raised at Jammu protest over land encroachment

Activists of Hindu right-wing groups on Monday raised slogans calling for “shooting the traitors” during a protest in Jammu after a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader alleged that most land encroachers in the region were from Kashmir.

Dozens of protesters carrying saffron flags burnt an effigy of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and demanded that the government set up a task force to investigate encroachment on land belonging to the Jammu Development Authority. The demand was earlier raised in the assembly by BJP Bahu legislator Vikram Randhawa.

Randhawa had told the House that 16,212 kanals of JDA land were under encroachment and claimed that 90 percent of it was occupied by Kashmiris, triggering sharp reactions. The protesters, led by Rashtriya Bajrang Dal state president Rakesh Bajrangi, accused the ruling National Conference government of failing to act.

Chanting slogans including “shoot the traitors” and calling for the eviction of alleged encroachers, the activists warned of further agitation if their demands were not met. Similar slogans had drawn attention during the 2020 Delhi riots.

Bajrangi alleged that illegal constructions were continuing in areas such as Sunjwan and Bhatindi and warned that the groups would take matters into their own hands if the government did not act. Protesters were also seen waving flags of the Antrashtriya Hindu Parishad, founded by Pravin Togadia, formerly of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

Senior NC leader Sakina Itoo and People's Democratic Party MLA Waheed Para criticised Randhawa’s remarks as communal.

The protests come amid heightened mobilisation by right-wing groups following the reported derecognition of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College by the National Medical Commission, with several recent meetings held at Geeta Bhawan.