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Anti-encroachment drive in Kaghan: Six hotels demolished, 600 cabins removed, says official

By Syed Kosar Naqvi
July 12, 2021

ABBOTTABAD: Commissioner, Hazara Division, Riaz Khan Mehsud said on Saturday that six illegally constructed hotels were completely demolished and 22 buildings were partially removed during the anti-encroachment drive in Kaghan valley.

“Few miscreants had tried to create a law & order situation during the operation. And a DSP, a constable and four other persons sustained injuries,” Riaz Mehsud told reporters here.

He said more than 6000 illegal cabins were also removed and over 700 kanals of precious land was retrieved during the operation.

He said that 50 people involved in creating hurdles during the operation were arrested. “These people had not only blocked the road but also opened fire on police, injuring a DSP and a constable,” he added.

DIG Police, Hazara range, Mirvais Niaz, Deputy Commissioner Mansehra Dr. Qasim Khan and DPO Mansehra Asif Bahadur were also present on the occasion.

Riaz Khan said that the federal as well the provincial government had focused on tourism and environment and launched projects like the billion tree tsunami.

The administration and Kaghan Development Authority had fulfilled all legal formalities, including issuing notices to all the violators before launching the encroachment operation, he added.

He further informed that 290 hotels from Balakot to Naran had also been issued notices, which were identified as unlawful.

Similarly, he said, boats were removed and confiscated from lake Saiful Muluk Lake.

He informed that the sewerage of a number of hotels had been contaminating Lake Saiful Maluk.

He appreciated the role of police for handling the situation amicably and termed it a successful operation. The commissioner rejected the impression that the operation was conducted to facilitate PTI’s MPA Ahmed Shah.

DIG Police Mirveis Niaz said that police joined hands with the administration for removing illegally constructed buildings on the river bed.