The Forest Department begins large-scale demolition in Muslim-majority Taragarh area, ignoring valid land documents and court orders
NEW DELHI/AJMER – Fear and anger gripped the historic city of Ajmer in Rajasthan as the Forest Department commenced a massive bulldozer operation targeting Muslim-owned homes and shops in the Taragarh area. Despite residents presenting valid land ownership documents and pending court cases, their properties are being demolished, leaving families displaced and livelihoods threatened.
The large-scale action began on Saturday and is expected to last four days. It is the latest in a series of similar crackdowns on Muslim communities across India, following recent bulldozer actions in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam. The operation in Ajmer has caused widespread panic among local Muslims, who fear further loss and injustice.
According to local residents, the Forest Department claims ownership of the land in question, but many affected families insist these are ancestral properties or legally purchased plots. “We have all the necessary papers, and some of us have court stay orders, yet our homes are being demolished without any proper notice,” said Mohammad Imran, a resident of Taragarh. “This is not just an attack on property, but on our dignity and rights as Indian citizens.”
Reports indicate nearly 200 constructions — including shops, huts, and cabins — across Taragarh Dargah, Lakshmi Pol, Bade Peer ki Pahari, and Andarkot are targeted in this demolition drive. The affected areas are primarily inhabited by Muslims, one of India’s largest minority communities. Shopkeepers and families who have lived here for decades now face uncertain future.
Local activists and community leaders have condemned the demolition, calling it politically motivated and discriminatory. “This action is not about land or encroachment; it’s about creating fear in the Muslim community,” said Farzana Begum, a social worker in Ajmer. “Despite court orders and legal ownership, the administration is acting with total disregard for justice.”
The demolition has also disrupted the atmosphere around Ajmer’s historic religious sites. Taragarh hill, home to the revered dargah of Khwaja Garib Nawaz, is seeing heightened tensions as police barricades restrict pilgrim movement and car parking is closed. Pilgrims visiting the shrine of Hazrat Meera Syed Hussain on Taragarh hill expressed sadness over the unrest.
The authorities have heavily deployed police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Civil Defence teams within a 3-km radius of the operation, turning the area into a virtual cantonment. Additional Superintendent of Police Himanshu told reporters, “The action will continue till evening, with sufficient security arrangements to avoid any untoward incident.”
However, residents accuse the administration of ignoring their pleas and court orders. “The electricity connections have been cut off without warning, and demolition has begun despite pending legal hearings scheduled for September 9,” said Zahid Khan, a local shop owner. “This is contempt of court and shows bias against Muslims.”
The people of Ajmer’s Muslim community now live in fear, facing not only the loss of their homes and businesses but also the loss of trust in the system meant to protect their rights. As one elderly resident, Amina Begum, put it, “We come here in peace, we pay our taxes, and yet we are treated like criminals.”
This unfolding situation in Ajmer raises serious questions about the selective application of law and the treatment of minorities in India. The demolition drive appears to be less about legal enforcement and more about intimidating a vulnerable community, undermining India’s foundational promise of equality and justice for all.
