Bandipora, October 22: A pre-dawn eviction drive in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district has left patients of a drug de-addiction centre and elderly residents of an adjoining old age home without shelter, with the NGO running the facilities alleging that the premises were sealed without prior notice.
Officials, however, attributed the action to unpaid rent and the recovery of government property.
The District Drug De-Addiction Centre (DDAC) and Senior Citizen Home (SrCH), established by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and managed by J&K Students Welfare Mission (JKSWM) with funding from the were sealed during the intervening night of October 20 and 21 during holiday.
Officials of the centres alleged that officials of Health department locked the de-addiction centre and removed furniture and equipment without issuing any prior notice or written order. It said the disruption forced staff to attend to patients in the open.
The NGO said the centre was sanctioned by the Ministry of social justice in January 2023 and had been provided rent-free accommodation at the Old District Hospital by the district administration in August 2022.
At the Senior Citizen Home, JKSWM alleged that Municipal Council officials removed furniture and other infrastructure, leaving elderly residents in the open yard. The organisation said it had not refused to pay rent and had repeatedly sought a formal assessment of the amount payable.
An elderly resident, Ghulam Mohammad, told Kashmir Convener that he was forced to leave while having dinner.
“Some men came and told me to leave immediately. They didn’t even let me finish my meal before forcing me out,” he said, alleging that furniture and belongings were thrown out through the windows.
Dr Anjum, a medical officer at the de-addiction centre, said staff had not been informed about the operation. “No member of the centre was kept in the loop. They came, broke the locks and brought all the luggage down,” she alleged.
She said the centre had around 1,400 registered patients and that those who arrived for scheduled outpatient treatment the following morning were turned away.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Aijaz Ahmad said their building was illegally occupied by NGO and they needed no notice to issue to the illegal occupants. However several other officials of MCB told Kashmir Convener that MCB provided temporary accommodation to them but continued to occupy the premises. The officials said rent had been fixed at ₹17,000 per month, but no assessment had been carried out, leaving dues unresolved.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Zaffar Shawal attributed the de-addiction centre’s eviction to the Health Department, saying the building had been occupied by another party and was being reclaimed.
Block Medical Officer Bandipora Dr Tahir Malik confirmed that the Health Department was taking back the premises, saying it was a government hospital. He declined to comment on the timing of the action, citing the matter being sub judice.
Chief Medical Officer Bhajan Kour did not respond to repeated calls seeking comment.
JKSWM has urged the Union Ministry to intervene, warning that disruption of the two facilities could affect people receiving treatment for substance-use disorders and elderly residents dependent on institutional care.
The Senior Citizen Home was inaugurated in October 2022 and the de-addiction centre in February 2023 by the then Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmad.
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