Anger and grief as over 55 homes bulldozed in two days; victims say they were misled by property agents
NEW DELHI — A large number of Muslim families in Malegaon, Maharashtra, have been left homeless after the local administration demolished over 55 huts and thatched houses, following an order from the Bombay High Court. The demolition, carried out at the weekend (May 3-4), has displaced hundreds of people, most of them poor workers, sparking shock, grief, and anger in the town.
While the administration claims it acted lawfully, the human cost has raised serious questions, especially in a Muslim-majority city where most of the affected belong to the working class. For many, this sudden loss has left them without shelter. Most of them have now been forced to live with relatives, friends, or even on the roadside.
The land in question, Gut No. 178/3 in the Malda Shivar area, had long been a point of dispute. It spans about one and a half acres. According to local sources, some people had converted this land into plots and sold them to poor families, often without legal clarity. The matter reached court, and the high court eventually ruled in favour of the original landowner.
Following this order, Malegaon Municipal Corporation brought in bulldozers and JCB machines to carry out the eviction. What followed was destruction that left entire families in tears.
Aqeel Sheikh, a power loom worker, watched helplessly as his home was reduced to rubble. “I was given a plot by a commission agent. I was told the notary would arrange the documents after some time. I trusted them for years. Now, there is no house and no land,” he said, his voice heavy with grief. “Those who sold us the plots are known as ‘respectable people’ in Malegaon. What respect is this?”
Shabana Bano, another victim, broke down, narrating her ordeal. “We are homeless in this hot summer. My children are sleeping on other people’s floors. I had paid for this land in good faith. No one from the administration or political leaders has come to help us,” she said.
Most of the families affected by the demolition are from the Muslim community, and many are poor daily wage workers, loom labourers, or housemaids who had invested their life’s savings to buy these small plots. Many had built homes over time, brick by brick.
Though the demolition was carried out under police protection as per court order, the administration has remained largely silent on whether any relief or rehabilitation will be provided to the displaced. The local municipality’s information department confirmed the demolitions but did not speak of any measures for those affected.
In the absence of any official help, victims have had to rely on relatives and neighbours. Some families are living in cramped rooms, while others are surviving under makeshift covers.
Social workers and local NGOs have started providing food and water, but even they say the problem is too big to handle without government help.
Malegaon Additional SP Tegbir Singh Sandhu acknowledged the pain caused by the operation but said the police were only following the court’s orders. “The police provided security to the municipal team. We understand the situation and have asked community members to help the affected families,” he said.
The demolition has sparked outrage in the city, especially among those who see it as yet another example of how the poor, especially Muslims, are treated unfairly in India.
Local activist and social worker Irfan Ansari criticised the one-sided nature of the operation. “Nobody is saying the court order should be disobeyed. But where is the plan for rehabilitation? Where is the concern for human life? This was done like a war operation,” he said.
He added, “Even if the land was private, were these families not tricked? Why is the government not taking action against those who sold the land illegally?”
Ansari demanded that a separate inquiry be conducted to trace and punish those who misled people into buying disputed land. He also called for immediate relief from the state and local authorities.
A local cleric, who did not wish to be named, said, “Most of these people are from our Muslim community. They are poor, and they were cheated. The government cannot just wash its hands. If this happened to any other community, would the silence still be the same?”
Political parties, too, have entered the scene, but their focus appears more on scoring points than helping the victims. Some politicians visited the area, posed for photos, and criticised their rivals, but concrete help remains missing.
Malegaon, with its Muslim-majority population, has always had complex political dynamics. Some feel the issue is being used to stir emotions for political gain. “Instead of helping people, they are using this for speeches and Facebook posts,” said a local shopkeeper. “People need food, shelter, and answers — not slogans.”
There is also resentment against the administration for not verifying the background of the land sale or helping to resolve the issue peacefully. “Why did it take years for this action to be taken? Why now? Why not go after the fraudsters who sold the land illegally first?” asked another resident.
While a section of society has come forward to support the displaced, the main demand now is for official action. Many are calling on the Maharashtra state government to step in and provide housing, financial assistance, and legal help to the victims.
A former municipal councillor said, “People should not be punished for someone else’s fraud. These families paid money, they built homes, and lived here for years. Their life is not a joke.”
Lawyers and legal rights groups are also beginning to raise the issue of rehabilitation and compensation. One local lawyer, Mohammed Faizan, said the state has an obligation to help. “Even if the court order is final, the government must step in. These are not criminals, they are victims. They were cheated. They need justice, not just destruction.”
