New Delhi/Kushinagar | Uttar Pradesh government has asked 44 Muslim families to vacate their houses in Nutan Hardo village of Padrauna tehsil in Kushinagar district.
The administration has served them eviction notices saying the houses have been built on ‘encroached lands’.
Local residents allege that Lekhpal has also vandalized some houses to force the inmates to leave the village.
Mohammad Sabir Ali Siddiqui, whose grocery shop was vandalized, told India Tomorrow: “I had gone for some work. When I returned, I found my shop ransacked. The wall had been pulled down and the goods looted. I was told that Lekhpal and his men ransacked the shop and looted the goods.”
Lekhpal has also vandalized Asaf Ali’s house. “I have also received a notice to vacate the house, Lekhpal vandalized my house as well. We have been living on this land for many generations. My grandfather and great-grandfather also lived here. Suddenly they issued a notice asking me to vacate the house,” he said.
Asaf Ali said they earn their livelihood by working as laborers. “If our house is demolished, where will we go in this cold?” he asked.
The house of Afsari Khatun has also been ransacked. Afsari Khatoon told India Tomorrow that Lekhpal and some people demolished the house.
According to the information received by India Tomorrow, so far 47 families have been served notices, out of which 44 are Muslims. All the families who have been given notice claim that they have been living on that land for 50-100 years.
“In compliance with the order passed by the court, all the encroachers are informed to shift the material kept inside their respective houses with immediate effect. In case of non-compliance, you will be responsible for the follow-up action. By order: Tehsildar – Padrauna,” the notice said.
This story was originally published in indiatomorrow.net. Read the full story here