Rajasthan authorities issue demolition notices after arrest of Muslim men in sexual assault case
Jaipur: In the town of Vijay Nagar, Beawar district, Rajasthan, tensions are rising after the arrest of ten Muslim men accused of sexually assaulting and blackmailing five minor Hindu girls. The arrests, made on February 17, followed three First Information Reports (FIRs) filed on February 16 by the victims' families. The accused include seven adults and three minors, all aged between 19 and 21.
Protests and communal tensions
Following the arrests, Hindutva groups organized mass protests and called for "bulldozer action" against the accused, accusing them of engaging in "love jihad", a term used by right-wing groups to allege that Muslim men are trapping Hindu women into interfaith relationships under the pretense of love. A bandh (shutdown protest) was observed on February 21 in Vijay Nagar, supported by various right-wing organizations, including the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Demolition notices issued
In response to the rising communal pressure, the Vijay Nagar municipality issued notices to the families of the accused on February 20 and 21. The notices demanded proof of ownership for their homes, warning that failure to comply could result in the demolition of alleged illegal structures under the Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009.
Notably, the municipality also issued notices to the administration of the 100-year-old Jama Masjid and a nearby graveyard, asking for documentation to verify ownership and legality. Pratap Singh, Executive Officer of the Vijay Nagar Municipality, stated that any decision on demolitions would be made after verifying the submitted documents.
Targeting of community properties raises concerns
The targeting of religious and community properties has sparked outrage among activists and local residents. Akhatyar Ali, a local schoolteacher, questioned the motive behind asking for ownership proof from a century-old mosque, suggesting an attempt to give the crime a communal angle.
Local Muslim families have expressed fear that they are being unfairly targeted, despite cooperating with police investigations. One family member of an accused individual, who works as a mechanic, said, "We have all the documents required to prove ownership, but we fear our homes will be demolished unfairly."
Allegations of due process violations
The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has condemned the issuance of the notices, stating that the administration is acting under political pressure. PUCL President Kavita Srivastava highlighted that any demolition without following due legal procedure would be unconstitutional, referring to a Supreme Court order from November 13, 2024, which prohibits demolitions without prior notice or due process.
PUCL also demanded impartial action from the administration, urging authorities to avoid communalizing the case. They emphasized that the alleged crimes should be thoroughly investigated under existing legal frameworks, without collective punishment targeting the wider Muslim community.
Allegations of violence and administrative bias
During the court proceedings, local advocates physically assaulted the accused while they were being presented before an Ajmer court. Despite the violence, no cases have been filed against the attackers, raising concerns about bias in law enforcement.
Meanwhile, authorities have seized a local café where the accused allegedly met the victims, citing encroachment violations.
Ongoing investigation
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sajjan Singh confirmed that the accused were charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The investigation is ongoing, with allegations of forced religious conversion also under scrutiny.
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No 'bacterial infection' found in bodies of 4 Mumbai family members who died after eating watermelon
Mumbai (PTI): The initial report submitted by the microbiology department of a Mumbai-based state-run hospital has said no "bacterial infection" was detected in the bodies of four family members, who died after consuming watermelon recently, officials said on Wednesday.
The Dokadia family, residents of Ghari Mohalla on Ismail Kurte Road, had hosted a get-together of relatives on the night of April 25. At around 1 am (on April 26), hours after the guests had left, Abdullah Dokadia (40), his wife Nasreen (35), and daughters Ayesha (16) and Zaineb (13) ate pieces of a watermelon.
They suffered severe bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea in the early hours of April 26 and were rushed to a local hospital before being referred to the government-run J J Hospital where all four died during treatment.
After the incident, Mumbai police, forensic experts and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials visited the house and had collected samples of every food item that constituted the family's last meal, including 'chicken pulav', watermelon, water, and other foodstuffs, and sent them to the Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis.
After the post-mortem of the deceased, their viscera was preserved for chemical analysis.
As the probe is underway, the microbiology department of the state-run J J Hospital has submitted its initial report to the police.
"As per the report, no bacterial infection has been detected so far in the bodies of the victims. No bacteria was found in their blood," the official said.
The exact cause of the death will be known once the forensic science lab submits its report, he said.
"The report will also clarify whether any food items consumed by the family members during the day contained anything poisonous," the official said.
