Chhatarpur, Aug 23: In a dramatic escalation of events, the luxurious bungalow of Haji Shahzad Ali, a former Congress District Vice President and prominent Muslim leader, was demolished by local authorities in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday. The action followed violent protests sparked by blasphemous remarks made by a Hindu “saint” named Ramgiri Maharaj, reported The Hindu.
The controversy began when a delegation of Muslims, led by Shahzad Ali, visited the Chhatarpur Police Station on August 21, 2024, to demand legal action against Maharaj, who had allegedly made derogatory comments about Islam in Maharashtra the previous week. The remarks, widely circulated on social media, provoked outrage within the Muslim community, leading to protests across multiple states.
Despite multiple FIRs filed against Maharaj in cities like Mumbai and Pune, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde defended the controversial religious figure, declaring that “Maharashtra is the land of saints, and we will not take any action against them.” His stance further inflamed tensions, and protests quickly spread to neighbouring regions, including Madhya Pradesh.
In Chhatarpur, the situation turned violent after the delegation submitted its memorandum. Clashes erupted, with stone-pelting incidents injuring several police officers. To contain the unrest, a police force led by senior officer Agam Jain conducted a march in the city, but the atmosphere remained tense.
Reacting to the violence, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav ordered a case to be filed against Shahzad Ali and 150 others involved in the disturbances at the police station. The next day, local civic authorities, under the directive of district officials, initiated a “bulldozer action” against Shahzad Ali and other accused individuals. Video footage shows a bulldozer demolishing Shahzad Ali’s bungalow, a rare move that also saw three cars parked outside the property being crushed.
Officials justified the demolition by claiming that part of the bungalow had been constructed without the necessary permits. The demolition marks a significant and controversial use of bulldozer actions, a method that has been increasingly employed in the region since 2017.
This incident underscores the growing tensions and the use of punitive measures in response to communal unrest, raising concerns about the escalating use of “bulldozer justice” in dealing with such conflicts.
