Bandipora: Hajin Farmers Protest Embankment Construction, Alleged Encroachment on Private Land. Residents and farmers of the Hajin Sonawari area in Bandipora district on Saturday staged a peaceful protest, expressing serious concern over ongoing construction of embankments in the region. The protesters alleged that during the demarcation process, official markings were placed inside their privately owned land, triggering fear and uncertainty among local landholders. The farmers clarified that they were not opposed to development projects, especially those aimed at employment generation. However, they questioned why their private land was being affected when, according to them, sufficient forest land was available for such construction. They urged the WUCMA department to utilise its own forest land for the embankment work instead of encroaching upon privately held properties. "We seek justice and urge the authorities to realign the embankment without snatching our land," the farmers said. Meanwhile, senior Apni Party leader Imtiyaz Parray visited the site and interacted with the affected farmers. He urged the authorities to temporarily halt the work and initiate a fresh demarcation to safeguard the interests of the farming community. Parray said he was not against development in forest areas, noting that such projects could generate employment if developed as tourist destinations. However, he stressed that development must not come at the cost of farmers’ land and livelihoods. When contacted, WUCMA officials said the construction was being carried out on the basis of orders from the High Court and maintained that there was no dispute with the farmers regarding ownership of their land.