Locals flag the absence of due process, equal action, and the impact on ordinary Muslim families; officials say FIRs with more action planned
PRAYAGRAJ — Bulldozers of the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) rolled into the city’s Bairampur Bakshi on Friday, pulling down large stretches of land described by officials as part of an illegal plotting drive linked to associates of slain strongman Atiq Ahmed. The action covered nearly 20 bighas at Alina City, near the airport police station area, and another two bighas on Lucknow Road, officials said.
PDA secretary Ajit Singh told reporters that the land had been plotted without any approved map or permission. “The plotting was going on for a long time. There was no sanction from the authority, and plots were being prepared for sale,” he said, adding that the drive followed an internal inquiry.
According to the PDA, an FIR has been registered naming Imran, Zubair Muhammad alias Pappu, Shoq Muhammad alias Muna Bedi alias Muna Hind Sawar and others, described by officials as close associates of Atiq Ahmed. “Our enforcement team reached the site and removed the illegal constructions,” Singh said. “Action will continue against anyone found violating the law.”
Police from Airport and Fafamio police stations were present during the operation, along with PDA officers, engineers, supervisors and staff. The authority said a similar action had been taken in the same area on December 18.
However, the demolition has sparked concern among local residents, many of them Muslims, who said notices were unclear and the pace of action left families anxious. A resident living near the site said, “If the land is illegal, follow the law, but give proper notice and hearing. Many small buyers are being punished for deals they did not fully understand.”
Another local shopkeeper questioned the focus of the drive. “We see action here again and again. People ask why similar illegal constructions elsewhere are untouched. The law should be the same for all,” he said.
Civil rights voices echoed these worries, urging the authorities to ensure fairness. A lawyer practising in Prayagraj said, “Demolition is a serious step. The state must show clear records of notice, hearing and alternatives. Collective fear among a community helps no one.”
Officials rejected claims of bias. A senior PDA officer said, “This is not about religion or politics. It is about illegal construction. Whether influential or ordinary, action will be taken wherever violations are found.”
As the dust settled, many families said they were left counting losses and seeking legal help. “We want justice, not fear,” a resident said quietly. “Let the law work, but let it work for everyone, equally.”
