Demolition of illegal encroachments along Dal Lake is falsely associated with Rohingyas - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 10, 2021
A post accompanying a video that appears to be of a group of officials demolishing a few constructions is being shared on social media platforms with a claim that the video shows officials demolishing illegal constructions of Rohingyas in Jammu & Kashmir. Through this article, let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Video showing officials demolishing illegal constructions of Rohingyas in Jammu & Kashmir.
Fact: Multiple Kashmiri local news agencies reported the video as demolition of illegal encroachments along the banks of Dal Lake by Lakes & Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) of J&K. None of these reports associated the constructions to Rohingyas. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
The video in the post carries a watermark which reads ‘JAMMU LINKS NEWS’. Taking a cue from this, YouTube search led us to the original video on a channel with the same name. According to the description provided in the video, the Lakes & Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) demolished illegal encroachments in areas of Lashkari Mohalla, Doji Mohalla, Burzhama, Wangut Teilbal & Nishat.
Further search with relevant keywords yielded a news report by ETV Bharat which reported the same incident. According to this report, Lakes & Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) of Jammu & Kashmir demolished illegal encroachments in Lashkari Mohalla, Dobi Mohaka, Barzahama, Wangat, Tel Bill, Nishat and other adjoining areas.
Further, multiple J&K local news agencies reported the same incidents and published similar visuals.  Even according to these reports, the video shows LAWDA officials demolishing illegal encroachments along Dal Lake which were raised without any prior permission. These reports can be read here, here & here. Few other videos related to the demolition drive can be seen here and here.
TV9 , India Today and Zee news also reported the demolition drive being conducted by the LAWDA along the Dal Lake. However, all these reports suggest that these are illegal constructions along the banks of the Dal Lake but none of these reports associated these constructions with Rohingyas, which suggests these encroachments have nothing to do with Rohingyas.
To sum it up, demolition of illegal encroachments along Dal Lake is falsely associated with Rohingyas.