Haryana Government Demolishes shanties of Immigrants’ in riot hit Nuh District

New Delhi, August 4, 2023: In a significant move, the Haryana government ordered the demolition of over 250 shanties belonging to “illegal” immigrants from Bangladesh in Tauru, situated about 20 km away from the violence-hit Nuh district.

The bulldozer action was taken due to encroachment on government land by these immigrants, who had allegedly settled in the area for the past four years.

The demolition took place amidst tight security measures, with heavy police and paramilitary deployment to prevent any potential disturbances. Notably, the move is also seen as a response to allegations that immigrants were involved in the recent clashes, and the Chief Minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar, had previously hinted at similar action as seen in Uttar Pradesh.

While tensions simmered, an attempt was made to vandalize two mosques in Tauru late on Wednesday night. As a precautionary measure, Muslim religious leaders have appealed to the people to offer Friday prayers (jumma namaz) from their homes, and prayers in Gurugram mosques have been canceled for this week.

In the aftermath of the clashes, Nuh Superintendent of Police Varun Singla was transferred to another district. IPS officer Narendra Bijarniya, who previously led the police force in Nuh from February 2020 to October 2021, has been appointed in his place.

The violent clashes have claimed six lives, including two home guards and a cleric. Several vehicles, food joints, and shops were set on fire during the unrest, prompting authorities to take swift action.

Amid the ongoing investigation, 176 people have been arrested, and over 90 others detained in the state. The police have also filed seven FIRs for incendiary social media posts, and they are closely examining 2,300 videos to identify those responsible for spreading inflammatory content during the clashes.

Mobile internet and SMS services, suspended since Monday in Nuh district, are scheduled to be restored temporarily today from 12 pm to 3 pm to allow people to buy essentials. The situation remains tense, with authorities continuing their efforts to maintain peace and apprehend those responsible for the violence.