Rights activists raise concerns over disproportionate targeting of Muslim families after September 26 unrest during the ‘I Love Muhammad’ protest campaign
BAREILLY – The aftermath of the “I Love Muhammad” protest campaign in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly continues to reverberate, as Muslim families in the Shahabad area face uncertain future. Following clashes on September 26, when police lathi-charged protestors supporting the procession, the administration has intensified actions against associates of influential cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza.
In the latest move, the Bareilly Municipal Corporation (BMC) has declared 27 homes illegal and ordered their demolition, creating widespread panic in the minority community. Streets in the neighbourhood have become desolate, with residents fearful of losing properties they have called home for 40 to 50 years.
Women and elderly residents have made urgent appeals to authorities, expressing fear and distress. Holding up the BMC notice, an elderly woman said, “We built this house by saving every penny. How can we now watch it collapse before our eyes? If we are removed from here, only our dead bodies will go, not us.”
Families report that daily life has been severely disrupted. Women say food is not being cooked, children are hungry, and men are afraid to step out. Several household members have already been arrested in connection with the September 26 violence. A victim’s mother tearfully recounted, “My 19-year-old son Aman was praying at home when the police took him away. He is innocent, but now our house is threatened with demolistion. What is our crime?”
Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Kumar Maurya defended the notice, claiming that municipal and primary school land in Shahabad had been illegally occupied for years. He said, “The BMC board received complaints. Following an investigation, notices were issued to 27 people. They have 15 days to present correct documents. If they fail to do so, action will be taken under the BMC Act and High Court orders.”
According to reports, properties linked to Maulana Tauqeer Raza have already been bulldozed, and over 90 people have been arrested in connection with the unrest. The latest BMC action threatens to escalate tensions between the administration and long-term residents, potentially leading to further conflict in Shahabad.
Local observers note that many affected families have lived in the area for decades, contributing to the community and paying taxes. “We have spent our entire lives here,” said one resident. “We are law-abiding citizens. Why are we being punished for events we did not cause?”
The notice has left the Shahabad neighbourhood in a state of uncertainty and fear. Human rights activists have raised concerns about the disproportionate targeting of Muslim families. Many residents hope for immediate intervention from higher authorities to prevent the destruction of homes and protect minority rights.
With tensions still high, the coming days will be critical in determining whether dialogue between the administration and residents can avert further hardship, or if enforcement measures will lead to additional distress for long-standing Muslim communities in Bareilly.
