Demolition drive continues in Nuh, nearly 50 to 60 structures have been demolished so far.
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In the aftermath of the recent communal violence that occurred in the town of Nuh, a massive demolition drive has been undertaken by the local authorities. The demolition drive has been undertaken against “illegal” structures. Today, marks the fourth day of the drive.
The local administration has brought in bulldozers to tear down the Sahara Hotel. It is believed that the violence in Nuh was ignited after a group of miscreants began to pelt stones on a religious procession from the roof of the hotel. All the 2500 participants of the procession were forced to run for shelter to a nearby temple.
The incident took place on Monday. The communal violence that broke out after the incident killed nearly six people, among them were two home-guards. The violence that began in Nuh found its way to the fringes of National Capital area of New Delhi. A 19-year-old Imam was murdered inside a mosque in Gurugram. The internet was suspended also in Nuh.
The reason behind the Demolition Drive
Earlier on Friday, the local officials had informed that the demolition had no relation to the recent communal violence. But on Saturday, the sub-divisional magistrate Ashwin Kumar said to the media that some of the owners of the illegal structures that were occupying 2.6 acres land in front of Nalhar Medical College were involved in the communal strife that erupted during the Braj Yatra. He added that the owners of these illegal constructions had already been served with necessary legal notices.
This Braj Yatra was organized by right wing Hindu organizations like the Vishva Hindu Parisad and Bajrang Dal. A section of the news media believe that the stone-throwing happened after certain online videos scared a section of the Muslim population who lived in that area. But there are also reports about stones being thrown from both the ends.
Demolition Drive is arbitrary: says the local MLA.
The local MLA Aftab Ahmed has called out the local administration’s demolition drive to be undemocratic and unnecessary. He added that these arbitrary steps taken are just tactics to avoid the acceptance of the local government’s failure. He demanded that the miscreants should be identified and arrested; necessary actions should be taken, according to him, following legal procedures. But he has no support for this mass destruction that is driving innocent people out of their homes.
Nearly 50 to 60 structures including medicine shops have been demolished by the local authorities, in the last three days. It has also been reported that the little shanties of migrant workers in Taanu, located 20 Km away from Nuh, are also being razed to the ground.
Many have fled the area fearing arrest. In a report in The Telegraph, it was said that many of the homeless are making their way to Bengal.
According to various reports 206 FIRs have been registered in the Nuh communal violence incident. 216 people have already been arrested in the same regard. The officials also mentioned that 24 FIRs were filed against social media posts and four among them have been arrested for posting content that might have instigated violence.
Curfew in Nuh lifted for 3 hours.
On Sunday morning, the curfew in Nuh, was relaxed for three hours, between 9 A.M. and 12 noon. However, the internet services would continue to remain suspended till Tuesday, 8th August.
The Home Minister of Haryana Anil Vij has indicated that there was a “big game plan” at play behind the violence in Nuh. But he has denied the opposition’s speculation about the government’s failure in gathering intelligence.
