Pressure from Hindu groups forces administration to act, leaving minority family devastated; activists question selective demolition and the growing communal bias in administrative actions
DHAR – The bulldozing of a Muslim man’s house in Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday has triggered outrage among sections of the minority community and rights activists, who allege that the administration acted under pressure from Hindu groups rather than follow the rule of law. The accused, identified as Amjad, was arrested earlier this week on charges of raping a minor tribal girl in Biloud village under the Digthan outpost of Sagaur police station.
Amjad’s alleged crime has hit both families hard — the victim’s, who demand justice, and the accused’s, who say they are being collectively punished. His family’s home was demolished by the district administration after Hindu organisations and local villagers staged protests, demanding “immediate and strict action”.
According to eyewitnesses, a large police force, accompanied by administrative officials, reached Biloud village and bulldozed Amjad’s house. The demolition followed a notice from the Gram Panchayat, which termed the construction “illegal”.
Deputy Tehsildar Anita Baretha said, “The demolition was carried out according to the Gram Panchayat’s notice. The house was built illegally, and the action took place peacefully without any resistance.”
However, members of the Muslim community allege that the house was targeted not for legal reasons but due to communal pressure. “The accused is in jail, but his entire family was punished without trial,” said a relative of Amjad, requesting anonymity. “If this is justice, then why are only Muslims’ homes being demolished? Are others above the law?”
The case has caused strong reactions in the area. Villagers accused Amjad of raping the minor girl, who later gave birth to a stillborn child at a private hospital. The news spread quickly, and Hindu organisations reportedly demanded the demolition of the accused’s house.
Villager Nirbhay Singh Patel said, “We repeatedly requested the administration to take strict action against the accused. We had warned of blocking the highway if our demand was ignored.”
Following this pressure, the administration moved swiftly. By the next morning, Amjad’s house lay in ruins. The entire operation was conducted in the presence of officials from Digthan and Sagaur police stations.
Rights groups and community leaders say that while rape is a heinous crime and the accused should face the strictest punishment if proven guilty, the demolition reflects a dangerous trend of “bulldozer justice” targeted at minorities.
A local activist, Mohammad Arif, commented, “The law should punish individuals, not their families. But in recent months, we’ve seen a disturbing pattern where Muslims’ homes are demolished even before any court verdict.”
He added that in several similar cases across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, homes of Muslim accused were razed within hours of their arrest — actions that have rarely been taken against people from the majority community.
Amjad’s family remains in shock. His mother, holding back tears, said, “We have lost everything. My son has been taken away, and our house is gone. We don’t even know where to go now.”
The family insists that they are not defending any crime but want due process. “Let the court decide if he is guilty,” said Amjad’s brother. “But why did they destroy our house before any trial? Is this how justice works in India?”
The family alleges that they were not given any notice or opportunity to respond before the demolition began. “Officials came with bulldozers early in the morning and gave us only a few minutes to leave,” said a neighbour who witnessed the scene.
Incidents like this have deepened the feeling of insecurity among Indian Muslims, particularly in small towns and rural areas. Many believe that the “bulldozer politics” has turned into a new form of collective punishment against the minority community.
A retired schoolteacher from Dhar, Abdul Wahid, said, “No one supports a crime like rape, but demolishing houses before trial is wrong. It sends a message that Muslims are not equal citizens.”
He added, “Today it’s Amjad, tomorrow it could be someone else. The administration is supposed to uphold the law, not mob sentiment.”
Police officials maintain that the investigation into the rape case is ongoing and that Amjad remains in judicial custody. “The case is being investigated fairly,” said a police source. “We will submit our findings in court soon.”
Meanwhile, local Hindu groups have demanded that the case be tried in a fast-track court to ensure early justice for the victim. But Muslim community members and rights activists have urged the Madhya Pradesh government to stop the use of bulldozers as a tool of punishment. “The demolition has nothing to do with justice,” said social worker Razia Begum. “It’s a message to silence and intimidate a community.”
This latest incident adds to the growing list of cases in which houses belonging to Muslims accused of crimes have been demolished across India. Critics say these actions erode public trust in the justice system and risk turning administrative power into communal weaponry.
“When justice becomes selective, democracy becomes weak,” said a Delhi-based legal expert, Advocate Faizan Ali. “If Amjad is guilty, he must be punished through due process. But punishing his family through demolition is unconstitutional.”
Madhya Pradesh has seen a pattern of “bulldozer justice.” The practice has been criticised by some but has also been used in response to public pressure. Some of the recent cases, invariably affecting Muslims, include:
• Guna (April 2024): The “illegally-built” house of a man accused of raping and torturing a neighbour was demolished.
• Bhopal (September 2025): The “illegal” houses of two men accused of raping and blackmailing college students were razed by the district administration.
• Satna (July 2023): The houses of two men accused of raping and brutalising a 12-year-old girl were demolished.
• Rajgarh (February 2025): A court acquitted a local leader of rape charges four years after his house was demolished based on the accusation. He now plans to seek compensation.
