Police in Chhatarpur parade accused Muslims; administration draws massive criticism
Team Clarion
CHHATARPUR – The Mohan Yadav-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Madhya Pradesh has come in for severe criticism after authorities in Chhatarpur demolished posh house of a Muslim leader, destroyed his cars and paraded other Muslims over allegations of stone pelting during protests against Maharashtra priest Ramgiri Maharaj’s inflammatory remarks on Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
On Thursday, a bungalow and three luxury cars owned by Haji Shahzad Ali were destroyed alleging that his abode was built without permission. Ali, a former Vice President of Congress in Chhatarpur, was leading the protest demanding action against the priest for his blasphemous remarks.
Apart from Ali’s bungalow, properties belonging to his brother and other accused were also demolished.
The videos of the demolitions were also put out by the Chhatarpur Collector on his social media accounts on Thursday.
“Under the direction of the Chief Minister of the state, strict action was taken by the Chhatarpur district administration against the accused in the case of stone pelting on the Kotwali police. The building constructed without permission was demolished,” wrote the Chhatarpur Collector on Thursday.
While capturing the scene of the demolition and scattered debris, the video shows four bulldozers razing the bungalow. Four destroyed cars could also be seen.
The bulldozer action unleashed by the authorities against Muslims has come under severe criticism.
Rajya Sabha MP and Congress leader Imran Pratapgarhi said he will approach the Supreme Court against the government’s action. He said the demolition shows the BJP’s hatred towards Muslims.
“See another example of the BJP government’s hatred against Muslims. In Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, Haji Shahzad’s house was razed to the ground at the behest of the Chief Minister @CMMadhyaPradesh. @narendramodi Ji is roaming around the world chanting the slogan of Sabka Sath – Sabka Vikas and his state governments are finding excuses and demolishing the houses of Muslims. The Modi government, which took oath on the Constitution, is crushing the Constitution every day under this bulldozer. I will soon approach the Supreme Court on this issue,” he said.
Pratapgarhi added “Is this justice? In Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, the administration not only demolished the house of Haji Shahzad but also bulldozed the vehicles parked in the house. @narendramodi Sir, are your governments running as per the Constitution? Is your Chief Minister not crushing your slogan of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas under the bulldozer?”.
Prominent human rights activist and Delhi University Professor Apoorvanand said “Law being bulldozed. Also tells us that the Indian state apparatus has gone rogue driven by Islamophobia”.
Prominent Supreme Court lawyer Sanjay Hegde said: “If a Chief Minister can instruct the administration to bring your house down, it is the rule of law that has been bulldozed”.
Apart from the demolitions, the videos of the accused being paraded in the city by the police have also gone viral on social media. The videos show the police holding hands of the arrested Muslims being paraded and raising inflammatory slogans “Police Hamar Baap Hai, Apradh Karna Paap Hai” (Police is our father, committing crime is a sin).
According to reports, the police have booked 150, arrested 20 people and raided 100 locations throughout the day detaining 50 suspects. Some policemen got injured during the protest.