Bareilly: Muslim families in Shahabad, Bareilly, are facing panic after the municipal authorities issued demolition notices for 27 homes. The action follows the “I Love Muhammad” protest campaign and clashes on September 26, when police lathi-charged protestors supporting the procession. Authorities say the homes were built on municipal and school land without proper documents.
Residents, many of whom have lived in Shahabad for 40 to 50 years, expressed fear and distress. Streets are largely empty, and daily life has been disrupted. Women report that children are hungry and household routines have stalled. Several family members have already been arrested in connection with the September unrest.
Holding a demolition notice, an elderly woman said, “We built this house by saving every penny. How can we now watch it collapse before our eyes? If we are removed, only our dead bodies will go, not us.” Another family recounted how a 19-year-old son was taken into custody while praying at home, intensifying their fear of losing their home.
Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Kumar Maurya defended the action, stating that the 15-day notice allows families to submit proper documents, and enforcement will follow the BMC Act and High Court orders. Homes linked to cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza have already been demolished, and over 90 people were arrested during the unrest.
Human rights activists have raised concerns about disproportionate targeting of Muslim residents. Many families call for higher-level intervention to protect their homes and rights. The coming days will determine whether dialogue can prevent further hardship or if enforcement will deepen the crisis for Shahabad’s long-term residents.
