In a unique protest, leaders of Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday (June 8, 2026) ploughed paddy fields to oppose the administration’s move to take over a huge tract of land from farmers in south Kashmir’s Pulwama.

“A few days ago, a local tehsildar warned members of 400 villages not to sow paddy seedling in fields spread over 3000 kanals (375 acre) of land. The villagers were warned of a First Information Report (FIR) if they step inside fields. We have been sowing the land for more than 80 years. What will happen to our families and cattle, which are dependent on the yield,” said Shabir Ahmad, a farmer from Pulwama’s Padgampora.

He said small patches of 3-4 kanals of land were being utilised by locals to procure rice and feed for cattle. “If the government takes the land, it will have a severe impact on locals,” said Mr. Ahmad.

To stand with the farmers, local legislator Waheed ur Rehmaan Parra ploughed the paddy fields for cultivation. “It’s a symbolic act of resistance against the land occupation campaign and eviction of local farmers,” said Mr. Parra. The PDP leader planted rice seedlings in the paddy fields at Padgampora where the tehsildar had warned of police action.

PDP leader Iltija Mufti, who also joined the farmers, accused the Revenue Department of “trying to snatch 2000 Kanals of fertile agricultural land in Dangerpora in Pulwama from poor families who’ve cultivated paddy here for centuries”.

“Like Sidhra demolitions in Jammu, the J&K government too is misusing police to implement these illegal diktats by threatening to slap Public Safety Act against protesters. Kashmir’s land belongs to its people,” said Ms. Mufti.

Ms. Mufti asked the J&K Police “not to interfere in political matters”. “PSA is a strong anti-terror law and should not be slapped on people fighting for their genuine rights like land,” said Ms. Mufti.

Following the PDP protests, former District Development Council vice chairman and senior NC leader Mukhtar Ahmad Bandh also ploughed the paddy lands at Dangerpora, Padgampora, in Pulwama as a mark of protest.