Mosque faces bulldozer threat after Muslim men accused of sexual assault in Rajasthan

The notice issued to a 100-year-old mosque and the families of ten Muslim men, including seven adults and three minors, who are accused of sexually assaulting Hindu minor girls, urged them to prove ownership of their properties, with noncompliance inviting demolition. This action by the municipal authorities in Vijay Nagar, Rajasthan, drew condemnation for being a punitive measure based on religious grounds.

The notices, issued on February 20 and 21, also included the historic Rajnagar Jama Masjid, a 100-year-old mosque, and a local graveyard, The Wire reported.

The police had arrested 10 Muslim men, including seven adults and three minors, on February 16 in Beawar district, following allegations of sexually assaulting and blackmailing five Hindu minor girls. The accused were booked under the POCSO Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), with reports suggesting they lured the victims with gifts such as mobile phones before coercing them into sexual acts.

The families of the victims had filed complaints with the police, after which the Hindutva groups got together, staging protests and terming the incident as ‘Love Jihad’, for which they demanded bulldozer action against the accused.

The municipal notices stated that in the absence of property ownership documents, the authorities would proceed with removing alleged illegal constructions, with the cost of the demolitions being recovered from the accused families.

Officials also warned that failure to comply would lead to action under the Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009, making the property owners responsible for the consequences. However, concerns have been raised that the process is being conducted unfairly, particularly as the mosque, which has stood for over a century, is now being asked to provide proof of ownership.

Local residents and activists have argued that bringing the mosque under scrutiny serves no legitimate legal purpose and could fuel communal tensions, with many suggesting that the administration is acting under pressure from Hindutva groups rather than adhering to standard legal procedures.

Some members of the Muslim community have voiced concerns that despite their cooperation with the police investigation, they are being unfairly targeted, with fears that demolitions will proceed regardless of document submissions.

The Muslim community argue that while no one from the community is defending the alleged crimes, collective punishment through demolitions and targeting of religious sites is unjust and politically motivated.

Activists have condemned the notices as a violation of a Supreme Court ruling from November 2024, which placed restrictions on demolitions as punitive measures. However, officials have defended their actions, stating that the notices were issued as part of standard legal procedures to address encroachments and that they were not linked to religious or political factors.