Bhopal: The newly ascended BJP government in Madhya Pradesh carried out another bulldozer operation in the Agar Malwa district, where the homes of four men accused of assaulting a cow, leading to its death, were demolished.
The authorities took this drastic step, despite the lack of legal backing, following protests by the BJP and right-wing supporters who demanded the demolition of the accused.
The four men, identified as Durga Shankar Gujjar, Rahul Gujjar, Razzaq Khan, and Sonu Mansuri, allegedly attacked the cow near Sangakhedi village, citing damage to their crops.
Following the incident, a first information report was filed against the accused under Section 429 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Authorities swiftly arrested the individuals, sparking protests from Hindutva groups who demanded the demolition of their homes.
The protests escalated, with members of Hindutva groups blocking a highway for over four hours. In response, authorities partially demolished the houses of at least three of the accused.
However, Deputy Collector Satyendra Bairwa claimed that the demolitions were unrelated to the cruelty case but rather stemmed from a separate issue of illegal construction.
This move adds to a concerning trend observed in BJP-ruled states, where civic authorities resort to demolishing properties purportedly linked to criminal activities. Notably, such punitive measures lack legal provisions in Indian law.
The incident has stirred debates on the appropriateness of using property demolition as a response to alleged crimes, raising questions about the rule of law and the need for proportionate justice.