Authorities in India destroyed about 300 houses, shops and stalls in the only Muslim-majority district, Nuh, Haryana state last week. One resident in Nuh, Abdul Rasheed, said police locked him in a bus when a bulldozer destroyed his shop.
"Im very sad. My family and children depend on the rent we receive from the shop. We rent shops for Hindus and Muslims," Rasheed said, as quoted by Al Jazeera, as reported by CNN Indonesia.
He also said the authorities did not notify or show any orders regarding this demolition. "They bulldozed everything," Rasheed continued.
In response to the action, the Punjab and Haryana High Courts ordered authorities to stop bulldozing properties in Nuh district. They also questioned whether the bulldozing was part of ethnic cleansing.
"The issue arises whether buildings belonging to certain communities are being demolished under the guise of law and order and ethnic cleansing are being carried out by the state," the court said.
Judges at the court, GS Sandhwalia and Kaur Jeewan also observed that the state authorities carried out the demolition without following the procedures laid down by law.
Destruction of Muslim property in India is not the first time. In June 2022, authorities destroyed the homes and businesses of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh.
