NEW DELHI—Bulldozers have again struck terror in Uttar Pradesh. After two people died in Kanpur, the UP government resumed the demolition drive in Prayagraj.
This time the target was not the title holders of the land or owners of the houses but a landlord who had rented out his house to politician Atiq Ahmad’s wife, Shaista Parveen.
The authorities demolished a two-storey house in Prayagraj where Shaista Parveen used to live on rent.
Prayagraj Development Authority bulldozers drove into Chakia locality and started demolishing the house, which Zafar Ahmad Khan owned. The house, valued around ₹2.5 crores, was already vacant.
“The house was illegally constructed in violation of set norms and is therefore being demolished. However, notice was issued to the owner, and all the required process was followed,” said PDA vice-chairman Arvind Kumar Chauhan.
Khan Saulat Hanif, Zafar’s counsel, however, said that the house was bought in 2021 legally.
“Right in front of the house, the house of the parents of Shaista Parveen is located. After the demolition of Atiq Ahmad’s house. Shaista took it on rent and started living there since 2021. Even an electricity connection was sanctioned in the name of Parveen here,” Hanif said in a video message.
Parveen, along with her husband and son, is named as an accused in the murder of advocate Umesh Pal. He was murdered outside his residence in Prayagraj last week. Two police bodyguards also died in the incident.
Police said Parveen and her son were absconding.
Umesh Pal was the prime witness in the 2005 murder of Bahujan Samaj Party lawmaker Raju Pal. Atiq Ahmad and his brother Khalid Azeem, alongside close aides, are the prime accused in the case.
This story was originally published in indiatomorrow.net . Read the full story here