A day after razing down homes of two of the accused in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur over violence over recent remarks by former BJP spokespersons on Prophet Muhammad, bulldozers today rolled down in Prayagraj under heavy police presence and started demolishing the home of a politician accused of leading violence on Friday.
Visuals shot by news crews showed bulldozers razing gates and outer walls of accused Javed Mohammed, a Prayagraj-based politician, who, the police claim is one of the “masterminds” behind the Friday violence in the city. There was major stone-throwing in at least two Prayagraj localities and it took the police over five hours to restore peace.
A clip showed police personnel and municipal teams inside the house, with objects and luggage scattered around. Some of the household furniture was brought out by municipal teams and placed on the road.
The demolition by the municipal agency came just hours after a notice was put out outside the residence of Javed claiming illegal construction on the ground and first floors of the house.
The notice put out outside the house of the politician late last night claimed that Mr Javed failed to reply to a demolition order sent to him in May this year
According to the notice, Javed was asked to get the illegal construction razed by June 9, failing which a final notice was sent to him to vacate the house by 11 am on June 12.
On Saturday, municipal teams, accompanied by police, razed down homes of two accused in Saharanpur shared videos of municipal teams out with bulldozers under a heavy police presence, demolishing parts of homes of two of the accused arrested which they claim were illegal constructions.
Demolitions were also carried in Kanpur, where violent clashes and stone-throwing took place on June 3 over the same issue.
The Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested over 300 people from various districts in the state in connection with Friday’s protests and violence, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath warning of “strictest” action against those attempting to vitiate the atmosphere.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has assured strict action against the rioters and stated that in any situation, the talks between the communities will be maintained.
In a series of tweets, Yogi Adityanath, a day after violence over comments on Prophet Muhammad gripped Uttar Pradesh and the rest of the country, issued a public statement, vowing to take exemplary action against the rioters who had indulged in violence, vandalism and arson on Friday.
Yogi Adityanath said, “We are citizens of a democratic country. We have to maintain dialogue with all sides. Action against miscreants will also be continued along with maintaining constant communication with religious leaders/civil society.”
He added, “Action against miscreants should be such that it becomes an example for all elements who have anti-social thinking and no one can even think of spoiling the harmony.”
In the subsequent tweet, Yogi Adityanath said, “Those patronising the mafia will be dealt with sternly and not a single attempt to vitiate the atmosphere will be accepted. The conspirators/accused will be identified and arrested at the earliest. Legal action will be taken against such people under NSA or gangster act.”
Yogi Adityanath assured that no bulldozers will be run over the houses of the poor and innocent but at the same time, no miscreant will be spared. He further tweeted, “Bulldozer action against criminals/mafias will continue unabated. No such action will be taken, even by mistake, against the residences of poor people. If a poor/helpless person has constructed a house in an unfit place for certain reasons, it will first be properly managed by the local administration.”
Yogi Adityanath further added, “The chaotic elements trying to ruin the peaceful atmosphere of the state will be very strictly dealt with. There should be no place for such people in a civilized society. Not a single innocent will be harmed and no guilty will be spared.”
