A day after violence erupted in Khargone during the Ram Navami procession, the Madhya Pradesh government demolished homes and shops belonging to Muslims.
On Sunday, some people had allegedly hurled stones at the procession, objecting to loud and provocative music being played in the Talab Chowk area of the city. Clashes erupted at the Gaushala Marg, Tabadi Chowk, Sanjay Nagar, and Motipura sectors as a result. At least 24 people were hurt in the assault, including Khargone Superintendent of Police Siddharth Choudhary.
Tilak Singh, the Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Khargone Range, stated on Monday that the residences demolished belonged to people who threw stones during the procession.
According to Scroll.in, the police have only filed first information reports against Muslims thus far, and no Hindus have been arrested.
The demolition is part of the state government’s anti-encroachment programme, according to Khargone Collector Anugraha P.
“We demolished roughly Rs 2.5 crore worth of property, of which only one or two were residences,” Anuradha added. “The majority of the shops were on government land, on the side of the road.” Others were encroaching because they had erected tin shelters on the property.”
She said that the demolitions were carried out in accordance with the law, and that the suspected encroachers were given enough time to leave their homes. Authorities are not entitled to demolish shops and dwellings for “even the most serious offences, let alone stone pelting,” according to Shadaan Farasat, a Supreme Court advocate.
Despite this, Indore Divisional Commissioner Pawan Sharma told reporters that the Khargone administration has begun demolishing at least 50 “illegal” structures belonging to persons accused of throwing stones at the city’s Ram Navami procession, according to PTI.
Damage to public and private property would be recovered from “rioters,” according to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
“Strict action will be taken against them,” he added. In Madhya Pradesh, rioters have no place.”
Narottam Mishra, the state’s home minister, has also promised to take action against the criminals. “The house from which the stones came will be turned into a mound of stones,” he continued.
According to PTI, the home minister claimed that individuals who did not like the results of the recent Assembly elections in five states are inciting violence.
According to the minister, 77 people have been arrested and numerous more have been identified in connection with the violence thus far.
During the violence on Sunday, the superintendent of police was shot in the leg, and six other officers were injured, according to Mishra. According to the minister, a resident named Shivam Shukla was also gravely hurt.
The minister stated that the curfew imposed in Khargone on Sunday, which prohibits gatherings of four or more individuals, will be maintained.
Three to four locations, including Talab Chowk and Sanjay Nagar, have been targeted by the police for demolition.
According to Scroll.in, whether the demolition exercise would continue is contingent on the filing of FIRs and the outcome of the police inquiry into the incident, Singh said.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
