Muslim leader's house bulldozed in MP after clash with police over remarks on prophet

The demolition of properties belonging to the Muslim community, a new norm in BJP-ruled states based on claims of illegal construction, occurred on August 21 in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district, where a Muslim leader's palatial house was demolished using a bulldozer following a clash between a mob and the police.

In response to the violence, the Chhatarpur police, along with local administrative officials, moved to demolish Shahzad Ali's residence. Ali, a local leader whom both the Congress and the BJP claimed was affiliated with the opposing party, had his property demolished along with other assets associated with him and his family, including those belonging to his brother and local councillor Azad Ali.

The authorities claimed that the properties were built illegally, and the demolition was part of an ongoing anti-encroachment drive in the district. A notice had previously been issued to Shahzad Ali regarding the illegal construction, but the police action escalated following the recent violence.

According to reports, around 500 protesters from the Muslim community gathered outside Kotwali police station on Wednesday evening, demanding that an FIR be filed against Ramgiri Maharaj, a religious leader, for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Prophet Mohammad and Islam during an event in Nashik, Maharashtra, last week.

The group, led by local leaders Shahzad Ali and Javed Ali, along with other local figures, gathered outside the police station to submit a memorandum. However, the situation took a violent turn—reasons for which are still unclear—resulting in several police officers being injured due to stone pelting.

The police were forced to call for reinforcements and eventually used teargas to disperse the crowd. Kotwali station in-charge Arvind Kujur and three other officers sustained injuries in the attack and were admitted to the district hospital.

Following the clash, the Chhatarpur police launched a crackdown, arresting 20 individuals and detaining several others. Over 150 people have been booked under serious charges, including those outlined in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The number of arrests is expected to increase as investigations continue.

In the aftermath of the clash, the authorities turned their attention to Shahzad Ali, a former district Congress vice-president, who is currently absconding. The BJP claims Ali is a member of Congress's district minority cell, while the Congress asserts that Ali is now affiliated with the BJP.

The house, described as a palatial structure, was allegedly constructed without the necessary permissions and is valued at around Rs 10 crore. Authorities have indicated that they will take further necessary action, including the potential revocation of arm licences for any of the accused found to possess weapons.