Demolition makes Muslim families in India homeless

NEW DELHI, India – In the outskirts of the Indian capital, New Delhi, the latest wave of communal clashes has led to the demolition of Muslim homes and businesses.

Although the High Court has halted the demolition, 350 families have been left homeless until then.

Last week, tensions escalated in the Nuh area of Haryana state when a procession organized by a far-right Hindu group, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and its youth wing, the Bajrang Dal, reached the district.

Clashes broke out between Hindus and Muslims in the Muslim-majority district.

According to Hindu groups, the violence was triggered by alleged attacks on their procession, in which vehicles were set on fire and stones were thrown.

Muslims, on the other hand, claim that a Facebook video posted by Monu Manesar, a Hindu vigilante, contributed to the tensions.

He is implicated in the lynching of two Muslim youths from the area.

The clashes had tragic consequences, including the death of a young imam who was beaten and stabbed by a mob, and the destruction of mosques and other property.

In the past four days, the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Haryana government bulldozed more than 350 shanties and 50 cement buildings.

Residents told the media that it was purely a revenge action. Authorities destroyed hotels, stores, and houses.

The targeting of Muslim property sparked concern and criticism from various quarters.

Civil rights groups and lawyers have accused Indian authorities of carrying out these destructions, some of which took place miles from the site of the clashes.

The High Court stepped in and temporarily halted the demolition.

However, residents say it has caused them suffering and taken away their livelihoods.

The incident highlights the ongoing challenges facing religious minorities in India.