Muslim boy and family arrested, their business demolished over alleged anti-India slogan

The Maharashtra police indiscreetly arrested a Muslim teen boy and his family on the complaint of a passerby whose allegation against the boy for raising an anti-India slogan was considered the only proof against them, putting in a situation where anyone can accuse another of making anti-national statements without substantial evidence, leading to punitive action.

The incident took place in Malvan, located in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district, where a 15-year-old boy was apprehended, his parents were arrested, and their scrap shop was demolished by the authorities after a complaint was lodged during the India-Pakistan cricket match, The Indian Express reported.

A resident passing by the family’s house at around 9:30 pm claimed to have heard the boy shouting slogans deemed anti-national, leading to a confrontation between the complainant, the neighbours, and the family, escalating into a dispute that resulted in police intervention.

The police registered an FIR based on the complaint and sent the boy, being a minor, to an observation home, while his parents were taken into custody and later remanded to judicial custody.

The municipal council, just a day after the arrest, demolished the scrap shop owned by the boy’s father, citing the absence of proper permissions for the structure, which also resulted in damage to the family’s vehicle.

Despite Indian law having no provisions allowing the demolition of property as a punitive measure, the practice has become increasingly common in BJP-ruled states. The Supreme Court, in a recent ruling, declared such demolitions illegal when used as punitive actions against accused individuals. However, in this case, the authorities proceeded with the demolition without providing the family an opportunity to challenge the decision.

Local political figures supported the action, with Kudal’s Member of the Legislative Assembly, who belongs to the Deputy Chief Minister’s faction of the Shiv Sena, claiming responsibility for ensuring the destruction of the family’s business and expressing an intent to expel them from the district.

Shiv Sena MLA Nilesh Rane shared visuals of the demolition on X, thanking the administration for its prompt action. He alleged that a Muslim migrant scrap dealer had raised anti-India slogans after the India-Pakistan match and vowed to ensure his expulsion from the district.

He further stated that, as a response, the authorities had already demolished the dealer’s illegal scrap shop, expressing gratitude to the Malvan Municipal Council and police for their swift action.

The MLA also shared images of the demolition on social media and expressed gratitude to both the municipal council and the police for their swift intervention. Additionally, the Malvan Lawyers Bar Association decided against representing the accused, further isolating the family from legal support.

The police, acting on a complaint from a resident of Hadi village, registered a case against the family, leading to a motorcycle rally organised by local residents demanding stringent action against them.

The complainant alleged that a group of boys had been celebrating India’s victory over Pakistan, during which the accused teenager purportedly raised slogans against the country, sparking an altercation with the residents.