After a man, Pravesh Shukla, accused of urinating on a tribal youth was arrested by Madhya Pradesh police on Wednesday, the state administration demolished parts of a property owned by him for alleged illegal encroachment. Pravesh was arrested late last night and the stringest National Security Act (NSA) was invoked against him.
A video of the incident went viral on social media platforms on Tuesday, following which the police registered a case against the accused. On Wednesday, videos showed a JCB machine demolishing a property owned by Pravesh in the presence of several dozen officials and police personnel.
In response, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's office tweeted, "NSA has been invoked, bulldozer has been moved and if needed, Mama ji will bury criminals 10 feet below the ground. Mama ji's message is clear, that is why those with ill intentions - think 10 times before committing a crime in Madhya Pradesh."
Meanwhile, the MP Bharatiya Janata Party has constituted a four-member committee to conduct a probe into the incident, state party chief V D Sharma said, even as the opposition Congress demanded a CBI probe into the incident and demolition of the accused's property.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati condemned the act as shameful and demanded demolition of the property of the accused.
Asked about a similar demand by the Congress of "bulldozer action" against the accused, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra, who is also the state government's spokesperson, told PTI, “Bulldozer action is not taken on the basis of Congress's demand...bulldozer runs only when there is an encroachment.”
The Congress had claimed the accused was linked to the BJP, but the ruling party denied the allegation.
