The Punjab and Haryana High Court sent an order to stop the ongoing demolition drive in Nuh, Haryana after communal clashes hit the district last week.
According to the reports, Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata has asked the concerned officials to stop the demolition process. The communal clashes took six lives in Haryana and led to a huge loss of property. The court of Justice G S Sandhawalia took suo motu cognisance of the exercise and directed the state government not to carry out any further demolition.
Officials told PTI that some of the buildings were used by rioters when a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession was targeted by a stone-pelting mob last week.
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The Directorate of Information, Public Relations and Languages has notified that the District Magistrate ordered the removal of Section 144 code of criminal procedure from Gurugram in Haryana on the return of normalcy in the district.
Why were houses razed in Nuh?
As part of the anti-encroachment drive, the Haryana government started to raze houses in Nuh after the area faced violent communal clashes.
The demolition drive by the Manohar Lal Khattar government in Nuh was criticized by the opposition as they accused them of targeting a single community. Reportedly the residents of the homes that were taken down said that they were not given prior notice.
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But the local administration defended their actions saying that it was done against illegal constructions and encroachment rather than targeting a particular community.
Khadgata told NDTV yesterday, "Demolition drive against illegal construction is underway and it will continue. Action is not being taken to target anyone. Our motive is to establish peace."
Chief of All India Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted saying, "Confidence Building means buildings, homes and medical shops and shanties of one community (Muslims) should be Demolished without following due process to give collective punishment. The @mlkhattar government has usurped the rights of Courts of Law Confidence is being given to people who are ideologically closer to BJP/Sangh."
A four-member delegation from CPI was stopped from entering Nuh. CPI Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam told PTI, "We have decided to go back because we don't want any confrontation. Hooligans, goons and miscreants can go freely, but democratic people who have come here for peacemaking are stopped."
What is the situation in Nuh currently?
Communal violence has still gripped Nuh and nearby areas as they remain under curfew and surveillance of the paramilitary forces to prevent further clashes. The ATMs were opened for four hours this morning, reportedly. But the internet ban continues in the area.
As many as 162 permanent and 591 temporary structures have been demolished in the district so far, said PTI.
