Zeyauddin pays a heavy price for antagonising a BJP leader. Locals say this is another example of bulldozer politics unfairly targeting Muslims
AZAMGARH — A fresh case of bulldozer action has surfaced in Uttar Pradesh, where the home of a Muslim resident, Zeyauddin, was demolished following a clash with a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader. The incident has drawn serious criticism, with locals and community representatives saying that the administration acted in haste and targeted Muslims once again.
According to reports, the dispute began on 16 August in Bhavaraypur village under Bilariaganj police station, when BJP worker Omkar Gaur accused Zeyauddin of damaging his house with a tractor. Gaur later filed a complaint with the police, naming Zeyauddin and his relatives.
Soon after, the administration declared Zeyauddin’s home “illegal” and, in the presence of heavy police deployment, sent bulldozers to demolish it. The demolition was carried out under the supervision of revenue officers, tehsildars, and drone surveillance.
Local residents, however, see the matter differently. They say the clash was between two neighbours over a property dispute, but only the Muslim family paid the price.
“This is open bias. If there was a fight, the courts should have decided. Why was the bulldozer sent only to the Muslim man’s house?” asked Abdul Kareem, a resident of the village.
The action involved police from six different stations, along with Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) teams. Officials said the demolition was necessary because Zeyauddin’s house stood on “illegal land”.
But rights groups argue that similar cases involving BJP leaders or upper caste Hindus are never met with such quick bulldozer justice.
“Every time there is a dispute between a Hindu and a Muslim in Uttar Pradesh, the bulldozer is only sent to one side,” said Mohammad Rashid, a local social worker. “This pattern is visible across the state, and it is causing fear among Muslims.”
BJP worker Omkar Gaur said in his complaint that Zeyauddin and others tried to forcibly occupy land belonging to him. “On Janmashtami evening, they came with 10 to 15 men and attacked my house. They used a tractor to damage the walls, and when I resisted, they abused and attacked me,” Gaur stated in his letter to police.
Officials claim that Zeyauddin and his brothers, Sadruddin and Qamruddin, had already been served a notice in 2022 for encroaching on government land. Based on this, the district administration justified the demolition.
But many Muslims in Azamgarh see this as a continuation of the BJP government’s bulldozer politics, which, they say, has repeatedly targeted their community.
“Bulldozer is no longer a tool of law and order, it is a weapon against Muslims,” said Shamim Ahmed, a local businessman. “If you are a Muslim and have a dispute with a BJP leader, you will lose your home. This is the reality today.”
Community leaders are now demanding an impartial judicial inquiry into the demolition. They argue that even if a crime took place, punishment should come through law and not selective demolition.
“We are not defending violence,” said Maulana Saeed, an imam in Bilariaganj. “But justice cannot mean demolishing Muslim homes while leaving others untouched. This is not rule of law, this is oppression.”
The incident has created deep unease among Muslims in the district. Families say they are worried that even small disputes with local BJP workers could result in bulldozers arriving at their doors.
“We live in fear now,” said a young Muslim student who did not wish to be named. “One argument, one false case, and our homes can be destroyed. This is not how citizens should live.”
