AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Tension and anxiety spread across parts of Ayodhya after authorities in Uttar Pradesh demolished several small shops in a Muslim-majority area, leaving dozens of families without a source of income. The action has sparked renewed questions about the rule of law, particularly as the land dispute linked to the site is still pending before a court.
The demolitions were carried out on Thursday in Adarsh Nagar Panchayat’s Janki Ward, near Maa Kamakhya Dham. Local residents said bulldozers, accompanied by police and revenue officials, arrived early in the day and razed shops that had supported families for many years.
Shop owners said the land in question, recorded as Gata No. 1565, is the subject of an ongoing legal case, with the next court hearing scheduled for 10 February. They alleged that the administration acted hastily and without waiting for judicial clarity.
Former village head Syed Nafisul Hasan Abid said the move had pushed already poor families into hardship. “The case is pending in court and the hearing date is close,” he said. “Despite this, the administration went ahead with bulldozers and destroyed the only source of income for these families.”
Standing amid the debris, several shopkeepers expressed shock and helplessness. “This shop feeds my family,” said one affected trader. “If the court had ruled against us, we would have accepted the decision. Why was there such urgency?”
The administration defended its actions. Nikhilesh Mishra, Executive Officer of the Nagar Panchayat, said notices had been issued 15 days earlier. “The occupants did not remove the encroachment despite notice,” he said. “After that, the revenue department and police cleared the land.”
Officials said the site was required for a government-approved development project, claiming construction had been delayed due to encroachment. However, residents rejected this explanation, arguing that any irreversible action should have awaited the court’s decision.
Following the demolition, community members gathered at the site, raising slogans and alleging discrimination. Local Muslim leaders said the incident reflects a broader pattern in Uttar Pradesh. “We repeatedly see bulldozers used in Muslim localities, even when cases are still before courts,” said one community representative. “This creates fear and sends the message that Muslims are punished first and heard later.”
Residents also pointed to earlier incidents in the state involving the demolition of mosques, madrasas, shrines, and homes of accused individuals before the completion of legal proceedings.
A senior civil rights activist said such actions continue despite judicial caution. “The Supreme Court has issued clear observations on demolitions,” the activist said. “Yet these drives persist, giving the impression that the law is applied differently depending on who is affected.”
Legal experts warned that demolitions linked to disputed land require restraint. One lawyer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “When a case is listed and a hearing date is fixed, taking irreversible action raises serious legal and ethical concerns. People lose property and livelihoods within hours.”
For the affected families in Ayodhya, the consequences are immediate. Women and children were seen sitting near the rubble as men tried to recover whatever goods they could. “We are not asking for sympathy,” said the wife of a shopkeeper. “We are asking for justice and time until the court decides.”
As night fell, the area remained tense, with a continued police presence. Community elders appealed for calm while seeking legal remedies.
The demolitions have intensified debate over the use of bulldozers in Uttar Pradesh and their disproportionate impact on Muslim communities. For those whose shops were reduced to rubble, the issue is not abstract politics, but the sudden loss of livelihood and an uncertain future.
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