Jammu Development Authority Demolishes 40-Year-Old House of Muslim Journalist, Hindu Neighbour Gifts Land

"They demolished his house on a three-marla plot. I'm gifting him a five-marla plot."

Jammu and Kashmir: After the demolition of a Muslim journalist's house in Jammu, his Hindu neighbour set an example of humanity. He gifted a plot of land to journalist Arfaz Ahmed Daing and promised to rebuild his house no matter what.

The journalist's neighbor, Kuldeep Sharma, said, "I won't let my brother down. No matter what, I will rebuild his house. I'm giving him this plot. They demolished his house on a three-marla plot. I'm gifting him a five-marla plot."

The Jammu Development Authority recently demolished journalist Arfaz Ahmed Daing's house in an anti-encroachment drive in the presence of a large police presence. Reacting sharply to this, his neighbor, Kuldeep Sharma, gifted the journalist land to rebuild his house. Kuldeep Sharma offered the affected family a plot of land in Jammu's Transport Nagar area. He said he would also help them rebuild the house, even if he had to do so by collecting donations. A video of this incident is going viral on social media, and many people have praised it.

This was the house of journalist Arfaz Ahmed Daing's father, built 40 years ago. Last year, the journalist's own house was demolished, after which he had been living in the same house built by his father. Arfaz was arrested by police in 2022 for reporting on protests against demolitions in the city. He runs a news portal in Jammu.

A few days ago, the Jammu Development Authority demolished the house of Muslim journalist Arfaz Ahmed Ding during an anti-encroachment drive. On Friday, a Hindu neighbor Kuldeep Sharma gifted his land to the journalist's family to rebuild their home. #jammukashmir pic.twitter.com/rwu3RishUI

— VOiCE OF MEDIA (@voiceofmedia1) November 29, 2025

Leaders from several parties have visited and expressed their sympathy for the affected families. The journalist said that the demolished house belonged to his father and he had lived there for 40 years. He said that he was not given any notice before the demolition. He described the administration's action as dictatorial.

The incident has become a topic of discussion on social media. People are praising the unity shown between the two communities. Opposition leaders have called it arbitrary, saying that demolishing a house without notice is against the law. Officials claim that the journalist's house was on Jammu Development Authority (JDA) land.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called this a conspiracy to defame the state government. The Chief Minister said that no one supports encroachment on government land. But the JDA cannot act as it pleases. A conspiracy to defame the elected government is clearly visible. A specific community is being targeted. He has asked the JDA for a complete list of illegal encroachments in Jammu.