The administration has requested tehsildars to declare these lacking folks as “presumed dead”, and to not concern any income paperwork of such land.

The order, issued on January 31 by the workplace of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, says it’s suspected that such properties are getting used to finance militancy.

Sources mentioned these are properties belonging largely to individuals who went to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir through the peak of militancy and haven’t returned since. Some of those additionally belong to people who find themselves suspected to have joined militancy and have been untraceable for years.

According to the order, it emerged not too long ago throughout investigation that some land patches at Tangmarg, in Baramulla district, belong to individuals who have been untraceable and will not be receiving any share of crops produced on these land. Sources mentioned additional investigation discovered the presence of such land patches in all tehsils of the Valley.

A J&Okay administration official mentioned police knowledgeable them that such properties are getting used to finance terrorism. “That is why an order has been issued to all tehsildars in the UT to make inquiries, earmark such plots, and ensure they are not misused,” the official added.

Rules stipulate that if a landholder is absent from the village and doesn’t domesticate the land or take share of the produce for greater than seven years, he/she shall be designated as “Gair Hazir/Gair Kabiz” (not current/not in occupation), the order notes. “In such a situation, after making reasonable efforts/inquiry; the tehsildar [concerned] shall presume that he is dead and pass orders on the case accordingly,” it says. “Before making formal entry into revenue record, he (tehsildar) shall also get it confirmed/approved from the District Collector concerned.”

“The share of such ‘Gair Hazir/Gair Kabiz’ persons may be allowed to be used by family members/ other co-sharers (in blood relation). However, they shall not be entitled to sell, gift or in any manner alienate the share…or create 3rd party Interest in the property in any manner. No FARD-e-INTIKHAB (revenue documents) of such lands shall be issued,” the administration has ordered.

Asking tehsildars to make crucial entry on this regard, the order says, “Specific input from the office of Special DG, CID has been received, in which it is apprehended that such ‘GairHazir/GairKabiz’ properties are used for financing militancy. There are specific instances of misuse…”

The order has clarified that this doesn’t apply to properties held by migrants. This, sources mentioned, was to make sure properties of persecuted minorities who needed to go away the Valley out of concern will not be affected.

The ongoing anti-encroachment drive in J&K has raised the political heat, with leaders from events reminiscent of NC and PDP calling the train anti-poor and unjust, and aimed toward concentrating on a selected group.

The J&Okay administration has denied the allegations and claimed that the drive has not touched the poor. The administration contends that politicians are criticising it since they’ve misplaced their very own properties constructed on encroached authorities land.