Lucknow:
A day after the homes of two of the accused in Saharnpur in Uttar Pradesh were razed to the ground over violence over recent comments by former BJP spokespersons about the Prophet Mohammed, bulldozers rolled down in Prayagraj today under heavy police presence and have begun to demolish the house of a politician accused of leading violence on Friday.
Footage taken by news crews shows bulldozers razing gates and exterior walls of accused Javed Mohammed, a Prayagraj politician who police say is one of the “masterminds” behind Friday’s violence in the city. Heavy stone throwing was carried out in at least two places in Prayagraj and it took police more than five hours to restore peace.
A clip showed police and community teams inside the house, with objects and luggage scattered. Some of the household effects were brought out by municipal teams and put on the road.
The demolition by the municipal office came just hours after a notice was posted outside Mr Javed’s residence alleging illegal construction on the ground and first floors of the house.
The message posted outside the politician’s home late last night claimed that Mr Javed had failed to respond to a demolition order sent to him in May this year
According to the report, Mr. Javed was asked to raze the illegal construction before June 9, failing which a final notice was sent to him to vacate the house at 11 a.m. on June 12.
On Friday, council teams, accompanied by police, razed homes of two suspects in Saharanpur and shared videos of community teams using bulldozers under heavy police presence, demolishing parts of homes belonging to two of the arrested suspects, which they claim are illegal. constructions were.
Demolition work was also carried out in Kanpur, where violent clashes and stone throwing took place on June 3 over the same issue.
Uttar Pradesh police have arrested more than 300 people from various districts in the state in connection with Friday’s protests and violence, with Prime Minister Yogi Adityanath warning of “severe” action against those attempting to pollute the atmosphere.
Of those arrested, 91 were detained in Prayagraj and 71 in Saharanpur and 51 in Hathras, police said.