Owners want return of ‘Heaven’: Not for cinema but hospital

Srinagar, Mar 20: An erstwhile cinema hall in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district is mired in controversy after its owners recently accused paramilitary CRPF of “illegally” occupying it and screening movies in it without the former’s permission.
The proprietors of “Heaven cinema” – comprising a large building set on around 24 kanals of land in Ashijipora area – have asserted their claim on it saying they want back its possession to build a “modern health care unit”.
Occupied by the government forces since 1991, the cinema currently houses CRPF’s 40th battalion, which, in a bid to revive movie halls in Kashmir, restored “Heaven” and screened a Bollywood movie in it on March 6.
Following it, the owners of the property issued a legal notice to the CRPF and other parties seeking a claim on the land.
The owners, Kanues of Sadiqabad, Anantnag had, as per the notice, purchased the property around 10 years back from its erstwhile owner with a purpose of expanding the business by establishing a modern health care unit.
“…time and again it was impressed upon you that in the first place your occupation is forcible and in the second, no premises of such magnitude and dimension is available in alternative to my clients leaving no option but to seek your eviction from the property.
“…besides holding the premises forcibly you have been also carrying the activities like running a cinema hall grossly in conflict with motive and interest of my clients,”
“…inspite of repeated notices, verbal and written, you have utterly failed to vacate the property,” reads the excerpts from the March 11 notice addressed to Commandant CRPF 40th Battalion.
The other addressees in it include: Commissioner Secretary Department Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police, Additional Director General of Police Law and Order Jammu and Kashmir, Senior Superintendent of Police Anantnag.
The notice asks the CRPF to vacate the property within 30 days failing which the owners will launch a regular civil suit for the former’s eviction from it.
Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Khalid Jahangir expressed ignorance over the matter.
“I have no knowledge about the legal notice. I will look into the matter and take an action accordingly,” he said.
Neither IG CRPF nor the PRO could be contacted despite repeated attempts.