Hundreds of houses belonging to the members of the Muslim community would be demolished by the government on the allegations of cow slaughter in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district.  The authorities are planning to bulldoze over 300 houses owned by members of the Qasai (butchers) community before the Holi festival on Friday (March 14). The residents have already been served with a notice asking them to vacate their homes within three days.

The matter is related to the Qasai Mandi in Damoh where the authorities have identified the houses allegedly built without acquiring permission from the local administration, a charge strongly denied by the dwellers.  The issue started from the Sitabaoli area where several structures were demolished by the local administration following the March 7 allegations of cow slaughter.

The action was taken after Hindutva groups created a ruckus over the cow slaughter allegations, demanding strict action and the removal of the alleged encroachment from the area.   The authorities assured the groups of action in this regard. Soon, the administration moved in the machinery and demolished six large structures. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)