'Ruse for ethnic cleansing?' Indian court halts demolitions of Muslim homes

The Punjab and Haryana high court in India has halted the administration's demolition drive of houses, questioning the local government-sanctioned measure as an “exercise of ethnic cleansing” by the state.

“Apparently, without any demolition orders and notices, the law-and-order problem is being used as a ruse to bring down buildings without following the procedure established by law,” said the bench of Justices.

Haryana administration’s demolition drives in strife-torn Nuh district started after communal clashes broke out in the area last week following the attack by Hindus on the mosque that killed five Muslim worshippers and another attack that killed four Muslims on a passenger train.

As part of the anti-encroachment drive, the Nuh administration tore down at least 750 properties, including houses and shops in four days as most owners claimed no prior notice was given.

The demolition drive by the Manohar Lal Khattar government in Nuh was criticized by the opposition as they accused them of targeting the Muslim community.

The court has voluntarily taken up the case asking the Haryana government to provide details on how many buildings were destroyed and if any notices were issued before the demolition.

Haryana's authorities deny any link between the clashes and the demolition campaign, claiming that they raze homes and shops to stop “illegal encroachments” on public lands. However several rights groups have denounced the authorities for the demolitions.

However, property owners denied the accusations revealing documents and witnesses to the false allegations.

Chief of All India Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted saying, "Confidence Building means buildings, homes and medical shops and shanties of one community (Muslims) should be demolished without following due process to give collective punishment. The @mlkhattar government has usurped the rights of Courts of Law Confidence is being given to people who are ideologically closer to BJP/Sangh."

The violence first erupted on July 31 and quickly spilled over into adjoining areas, including the business hub Gurugram, which neighbors New Delhi, with the authorities accusing residents of "illegal" homes and shops of involvement in an attack on a Hindu procession in the district.

The district remains under curfew and surveillance of the paramilitary forces as the internet ban continues in the area. 

Officer on special duty (OSD) to Haryana chief minister said the drive will continue till all the houses and properties of the suspects are demolished. “They have disrupted peace and harmony and they will have to bear the cost of it. They have intentionally and with planning attacked the Hindu yatra that involved women and children, they showed no mercy for anyone,” he said.

Over 300 Muslim homes, shops demolished in India’s Haryana

Violence has been on the rise against India’s Muslim minority by Hindu nationalists.

As many as 162 permanent and 591 temporary structures have been demolished in the district so far mostly Muslim property, an Indian news agency reported.

In the wake of the clashes, more than 150 Muslims were arrested for alleged violence, local police announced on Monday.

Meanwhile, Nuh legislator and Congress leader Chaudhary Aftab Ahmed said the demolition drive was “illegal”. “This drive is illegal and nothing will be achieved by officials from this action. Those found guilty should be severely punished, but demolishing houses, and shops of the poor people of the district is unfair and not acceptable,” he said.

A four-member delegation from the Communist Party of India (CPI) was stopped from entering Nuh by local officials. CPI MP remarked, "This is the plight of the country today. The reality of the day, the Police are not allowing even us. That means that under this rule, even the freedom of movement is prohibited. Hooligans, goons, and miscreants can go freely, but democratic people who have come here for peacemaking are stopped."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pursuit of a “Hindu first” agenda since coming to power in 2014 has stoked communal tension in India.

In recent years authorities in some states ruled by Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have demolished what they allege to be “illegal” houses of people accused of crimes and of participating in religious clashes, many of whom Muslims.

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