On April 24, 2023, hundreds of homes, belonging to migrant Hindus from Pakistan, were razed down by the Jodhpur Development Authority in Rajasthan. This incident has sparked a major controversy as a video of the incident has surfaced on social media platforms where the migrant Hindus can be heard expressing their anguish over the action taken by the authorities.
In the video, a woman appeared unconscious due to the stress of the action taken on their houses. The man recording the video said, “Look at her. She fainted. Look around. This is our India. We came to India. They are bulldozing our homes. We were facing atrocities in Pakistan, and we are now facing atrocities in India. Look around. We are dying here.” Another man could be heard asking for two-day time to vacate the premises. The heavy police force was present with the authorities, and a bulldozer was seen in the video.
According to news agency PTI, the Jodhpur Development Authority launched an anti-encroachment drive and razed down around 200 structures, including homes of the migrant Hindus. On the other hand, the migrants alleged they bought the land from the land mafia by paying anywhere between Rs 70,000 to Rs 2 lakh.
During the drive, the migrants got agitated and allegedly pelted stones at the team that came to demolish the houses. The driver of the bulldozer and JDA personnel sustained minor injuries. Two complaints were filed in the matter.
A JDA official told the media that around 400 Bigha land was cleared of encroachment. It belonged to Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, and many structures were raised on the land without permission. When the residents alleged they owned the land, JDA authorities asked to present papers. The migrants could not produce any papers, after which the structures were razed down.
The incident has led to outrage among migrant Hindus in India, with many calling it a gross violation of their rights. The opposition parties have also condemned the action and demanded an immediate probe into the matter.
This story was first published on Opindia.com
