UP Govt pushes 80 Muslim families into ghettos citing encroachers in Sambhal
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About 80 Muslim families in the Bahjoi area of Sambhal, UP, were rendered homeless after the government forcibly evacuated them from land belonging to a glass factory on October 16, citing illegal construction and encroachments following an Allahabad High Court order.
According to a report published on theobserverpost.com, the families, who had nowhere to go, were left on the street to find shelter, living on the land officially owned by a glass-works factory and had paid taxes for their homes to the government despite a suit in the court. Following the evacuation, police sealed the houses and initiated power cuts, exacerbating the already dire situation for the displaced families.
The police operation began early in the morning, with officials entering the homes amid a heavy deployment of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel. Witnesses reported that residents, many of whom had lived in Bahjoi for over 50 years, were left in tears, pleading for assistance while desperately trying to salvage their belongings. In a distressing display of disregard for the families' circumstances, police discarded their possessions onto the streets.
The affected families, primarily from working-class backgrounds, had invested in these plots with the hope of building stable homes, unaware that they were situated on land belonging to the glass factory, regarded as one of the first of its kind in Asia. Many families had been led to believe that their property purchases were legitimate, but they later discovered the negligence of the local administration in permitting such developments.
Significantly, these families have consistently paid house taxes to the government, highlighting their long-standing presence in the area and their perceived rights to the land. Historical negligence by the administration has further complicated their situation, with some families having sold their properties and relocated, while others remain trapped in legal limbo and continue to advocate for their right to stay.
The legal troubles surrounding these evictions trace back to a 1994 petition filed by Purushottam Dayal Varshay, which sought to address encroachments on the land. In August 2024, the court ordered the district administration to proceed with the eviction, leading to District Magistrate Rajendra Pansiya's involvement.
Following this order, families were given a deadline of October 16 to vacate their homes, with a police presence that included Inspector Krishna Kumar Vishnoi overseeing the operation.
This incident is not an isolated occurrence; the Bahjoi area has seen previous targeting of Muslim homes and businesses. Just last year, several properties were bulldozed under similar claims of illegal encroachment, leaving many small shops and livelihoods in ruins. The community remains vulnerable and has been largely unsupported, as no political leaders from the ruling party, opposition, or any secular organizations have stepped forward to assist those displaced.