In MP's Ujjain, Three-Storey Building of Muslim Family Razed Amid Bhangra Beats

Bhopal: While the crowd was cheering on Kailash Kher's intense song 'Govinda Govinda', dedicated to Lord Krishna, 10-metre away, amid heavy police deployment and Bhangra beats, the home of three Muslim brothers in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain were razed on Wednesday.

The three-storey building and juice shop of Asgar Mansuri, Ashraf Mansuri, and Akbar Mansuri were demolished two days after three sons of the family, Adnan Mansuri (18) and two minors, were booked for allegedly spitting on the religious procession 'Mahakal Savari', dedicated to Baba Mahakal.

According to the police, the incident came to light after some devotees shot a video allegedly showing a boy spitting down from his terrace.  

#Ujjain

इल्ज़ाम है कि मुस्लिम युवकों ने महाकाल की सवारी पर पानी फेंका और थूका।

बीजेपी नेता की शिकायत पर 4 धाराओं में 3 पर FIR हुई और गिरफ़्तारी हुई।

आज प्रशासन ने DJ / ढोल के साथ उनका घर तोड़ दिया।

जबकि पुलिस जांच में युवक द्वारा चुइंगम खाते हुए अनिनटेंशनली थूकने की बात...1/3 pic.twitter.com/nsBsXd93bS

— काश/if Kakvi (@KashifKakvi) July 19, 2023

Based on the complaint of a devotee, Sawal Lot, the Ujjain police lodged an FIR against the three Muslim youths on Monday night, July 17, at Kharkua police station under IPC sections 295 A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings), 153 a (Offence committed in place of worship), 296, and 505.

They were subsequently dragged from the home late at night by the police. One was sent to the Ujjain jail, while the others were sent to juvenile homes.

In the FIR, the complainant and his friends Yogesh Bagmar and Ajay Khatri verbally reported that they were standing near Tanki Chowk of Ujjain when they saw three boys spitting. 

"Three youths, including two minors, were arrested who tried to disturb the communal harmony of the city," said Akash Bhuriya, ASP Ujjain, while speaking to reporters on Wednesday.

A senior police officer of the Kharkua police station in Ujjain said the police investigation revealed that two of the accused were chewing gum and spitting on the wall, which wasn't intentional.

They came to the roof to see the procession. "His family also said that the duo have recently developed a habit of chewing gum all day and spitting all over the place," he told NewsClick.

Besides, the spit did not fall on the procession as the first floor of the three-storey building has a green net hanging, he added. However, he noted that "such acts should have been avoided, especially during a religious procession."

"We have lodged the FIR, arrested the accused, and sent to jail. Rest is upto the court," Rajveer Singh Gurjar, town inspector of the Kharkua police station, told NewsClick over the phone.

According to locals, the three brothers -- Asgar, Asraf and Akbar -- ran a juice shop post-lockdown after their automobile repair workshop and packaged drinking water business collapsed in the pandemic. 

A day after the FIR and subsequent arrest of their children, the three brothers left home, fearing an attack on the home or demolition.

A neighbour further said that a paan shop of Slaman Mansuri was also razed after he opposed the demolition of the accused.

Speaking to reporters after the demolition, ASP Bhuria said, "The homes of those accused of disturbing the religious harmony during a religious procession have been razed."

Subsequently, the team of the Municipal Corporation and Revenue Department "found illegal construction, which was razed," he added.

When asked about the celebration by playing music and drum outside the demolishing home, he replied, "Before any illegal demolition, drums are used to announce publicly."

It is not the first time that the district administration has razed the homes of Muslims in Ujjain, which has a sizable Muslim population.

After an incident of stone-pelting on December 25, 2020 , between the residents of Begum Bagh and the BJP's youth wing -- Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha -- during a Ram Temple fund collection rally, the district administration razed the homes of those Muslim residents.

In 2021 and 2022, the homes of some Muslim retail shopkeepers were razed after Chinese Majha was caught in their possession. Similarly, homes of Muslims were also bulldozed after a controversy regarding the raising of "Kazi sb zindabad" slogans, which were morphed into "Pakistan zindabad"; this also led to the arrest of close to two dozen people in 2021.