People beg for help as notices order them out after eid
Team Clarion
ALIGARH — More than 100 Muslim families in Chilkora village, Aligarh, are scared for their future after getting eviction notices from the local administration. The notices, stuck on their homes, say they have to leave within 15 days after Eid — or their houses will be knocked down by bulldozers. This news has left the village in shock and brought back talk about bulldozers being used in states run by the BJP.
These families say they’ve lived here for 40 to 50 years. On Thursday, many of them went to the district office to meet the District Magistrate (DM). They carried papers called bainama to show the land is theirs. “We’ve been here for so long,” said Mohammad Aslam, whose family got a notice. “We’ve got proof this is our home. Why are they doing this to us?”
The notices came just before Eid, turning a happy time into a frightening one. “We should be getting ready to celebrate,” said Razia Begum, a mum with three kids. “Instead, we’re worried about losing everything. My children are terrified.” Some families think the administration is picking on them because of pressure from others, but they don’t know who.
In places like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Assam—all run by the BJP—bulldozers have been used a lot lately. The government says it’s to clear out illegal buildings. In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is even called “Bulldozer Baba” because he’s so tough on this. But many people say it’s unfair and aimed at certain groups, especially Muslims.
The Chilkora families are fighting back. “This isn’t about anything illegal,” said Ahmed Khan, who’s run a shop in the village for over 45 years. “We pay taxes, we’ve got electricity and water bills—everything shows we live here properly. Why won’t they listen?” They’ve asked the administration to look at their papers and stop the eviction.
So far, the administration hasn’t said much. They haven’t explained why the notices were given or what they’ll do next. This has left everyone waiting and worried.
This isn’t just happening in Aligarh. Bulldozers have been tearing down homes and shops in lots of places, especially in Uttar Pradesh. The government says it’s for the public good, but others disagree. Opposition parties say it’s targeting poor people and Muslims, and the Supreme Court has even said it’s not happy about how these demolitions happen.
With the 15-day deadline getting closer, people in Aligarh are watching closely. Will the administration change its mind after seeing the families’ papers, or will the bulldozers come anyway? For now, the village is quiet but full of fear.
“We don’t have anywhere else to go,” said Aslam, his voice shaking. “This is our home. If they take it, what will we do?” For these families, the next few days will decide everything.
