In Short
- Notices served to 23 shops, 20 owned by Muslims, after communal tensions
- Shopkeepers fear bulldozer action and fees, demolish structures themselves
- Illegal constructions within 60 meters of main road targeted by PWD
Shopkeepers in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich have begun demolishing parts of their shops following notices issued by the Public Works Department (PWD) to vacate properties due to illegal construction. The PWD had served the notices to 23 establishments, 20 of which belong to Muslim shopkeepers.
This action follows a recent communal flare-up in the Maharajganj area of the district, during which a 22-year-old man was shot dead, triggering heightened tensions in the district.
Fearing bulldozer action, shopkeepers have started taking matters into their own hands. After vacating their shops, they have begun demolishing the illegal portions themselves. This is being done to avoid both the destruction of their entire establishments by government bulldozers and the fees associated with such action.
This story was originally published in indiatoday.in. Read the full story here.
