Tenants ‘unlawfully’ evicted by shop owner in Pulwama

PULWAMA — At least two tenants have been ‘unlawfully’ evicted by the shop owner in southern Kashmir’s Pulwama district, even as the tenants filed a court case and police complaint.

The incident occurred in main town Pulwama wherein the shop owner Mushtaq Ahmad Malik, as per a tenant Abdul Rashid Hajam, looted their shops and unlawfully dislodged them.

The complainant tenant, Abdul Rashid, added, “I belong to far-off village Deeri Hardpora in Pulwama. I had invested all my savings in this shop as I had rented it some 35 years ago. Apart from hair-cutting, I had cosmetic items in the shop worth lakhs of rupees. But I am in utter shock to find my shop locked by the owner with all the items looted in the dead of the night.”

“I used to sell readymade items in the shop but they looted it and asked me to find a new shop for rental. If we approach the shop owner, they come with a bevy of women holding sticks. This is really humiliating!” another tenant, Mushtaq Ahmad Ganie, alleged.

Both the tenants alleged that their shops were illegally vacated in the dead of the night, with their property, consisting mainly of cosmetics and readymade garments, looted by the shop owner.

The complainants have approached the local police station in Pulwama after filing a lawsuit in the district court.

“We appeal the authorities to help us and do justice. There is rule of law and we can’t be evicted illegally like this,” tenant Mushtaq’s wife said.

However, when the shop owner’s family was approached for their comments, they said the property belongs to them and they have every right to evict the tenants.

“The rent deed has expired in the year 2018 and we have a right to evict the tenants. They are free to approach the court and we’ll discuss the things there,” they said.