The action sparks outrage among Muslims who say the move violates Supreme Court directions and exposes selective targeting of minorities
PRAYAGRAJ – Tension gripped this Uttar Pradesh’s city after a dhaba owned by a jailed young Muslim man, Mohammad Alam, was bulldozed in what many see as another targeted action against Muslims under the guise of law enforcement. Alam, accused of an alleged religious conversion, ran a small eatery named Kohinoor Hindustan Dhaba in the Industrial Police Station area of Yamunanagar.
The demolition was conducted jointly by the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Revenue Department, who declared the structure “illegal.” The officials claimed that the eatery had been built without formal permission.
However, this bulldozer action — carried out despite the Supreme Court’s clear directions prohibiting demolitions without due legal process — has drawn criticism from locals and community leaders, who describe it as an act of discrimination and intimidation.
Just days before the demolition, police had arrested Mohammad Alam following a complaint by a Hindu woman who alleged that Alam had forced her to convert to Islam. The case was registered at Ghurpur police station, and Alam was later sent to jail.
According to sources close to the family, Alam has denied the allegations, insisting that the case was fabricated to harass him. “My brother is innocent,” said Alam’s elder sibling. “He was just running a small dhaba to earn a living. This false case has destroyed our family’s peace and livelihood.”
Officials from the Public Works Department claimed that the demolition was carried out after an internal inquiry confirmed the construction was unauthorised. “The structure stood on government land and had no official approval,” said a PWD official, requesting anonymity.
But members of the Muslim community view the action as a continuation of a disturbing pattern. “Whenever a Muslim name appears in any case — proven or not — bulldozers come into action within days,” said Rashid Ahmed, a local social worker. “This is not justice. This is punishment without trial.”
Legal experts and activists have questioned the administration’s decision, citing the Supreme Court’s guidelines that prohibit demolitions as a form of extra-judicial punishment. Advocate Sana Khan, a human rights lawyer based in Lucknow, said, “Even if a structure is illegal, there are procedures — notices, hearings, and time to respond. The state cannot act like a court and executioner at once. This bulldozer politics violates both the Constitution and humanity.”
Community leaders in Prayagraj have also accused the administration of selective action, noting that properties belonging to Hindus facing legal disputes often remain untouched. “If the same standards were applied to everyone, half the city’s shops would be gone,” said
Maulana Farooq, imam of a local mosque. “But it is only Muslim establishments that are demolished — and that too immediately after any accusation.” He further added, “They accuse a man, jail him without proof, and then destroy his home or business. How can the poor survive in such fear?”
In a landmark order earlier this year, the Supreme Court had warned state authorities against using bulldozers as instruments of punishment. It stated that no demolition should take place without prior notice and opportunity to be heard. Critics argue that the Prayagraj action openly defies this directive.
A retired district judge, Justice RK Siddiqui, said, “The law is clear. Even if a construction is unauthorised, there must be a process. The Supreme Court has said this several times. What happened here seems politically motivated and legally untenable.”
The demolition has spread fear among local Muslims, many of whom run small food stalls, garages, and shops in the same industrial area. “If they can do this to Alam, what about us?” asked Shahid Ali, another vendor. “We work day and night to feed our families, but it seems being Muslim is enough to lose everything overnight.”
Many residents gathered at the site after the demolition, expressing anger and grief as bulldozers flattened the remains of Alam’s eatery. “It wasn’t just a dhaba,” said a teary-eyed neighbour. “It was his hope. The government snatched that away without even listening.”
This is not the first such case in Uttar Pradesh. Over the past few years, several instances have been reported where Muslim homes or businesses were demolished soon after police cases were filed — often before any court verdict. Civil society groups and opposition leaders have repeatedly condemned the “bulldozer justice” approach as unconstitutional and communal.
Human rights organisations have demanded an inquiry into the Prayagraj demolition, urging the state to compensate Alam’s family and stop the misuse of administrative powers. “If the state continues to act like this, faith in the justice system will completely erode,” said Zubair Khan, spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh Muslim Welfare Council.
“We are not against lawful action, but law must be the same for everyone. What we see now is revenge, not justice,” he added.
