A house rented by a 15-year-old Muslim boy accused of stabbing a classmate was demolished by the city municipal corporation on Saturday, sparking concerns over what is being referred to as “demolition justice.”
Authorities justified the action by claiming the house was built on “encroached forest land.”
As reported by The Indian Express, the family was given a notice from the forest department just hours before the demolition took place.
Inspector General Ajay Lamba of the Udaipur range stated that the house’s owner, Rashid Khan, failed to provide ownership documents, which led to the demolition.
Rashid Khan, who had rented out the house, expressed his distress over the incident, revealing that four other families living in the same apartment were also forced to vacate before the demolition.
In a widely shared video, Khan questioned the basis of the demolition and criticized the administration for what he called an injustice.
He mentioned that his efforts to halt the demolition by reaching out to the municipal corporation and the police were in vain.
This demolition occurred in the wake of violent incidents in Udaipur, following the stabbing incident involving the Muslim boy.
Members of Hindu right-wing groups responded with violence, setting cars on fire and throwing stones in the Madhuban area.
In response, authorities suspended mobile internet services for 24 hours in several parts of Udaipur and ordered the closure of all schools to prevent further escalation.
By the end of the day, Udaipur Collector Arvind Poswal reported that the situation had stabilized, with markets and shops reopening without significant issues.