'We demolished the homes where beef was found': Authorities defend demolitions in MP village

Residents whose homes remain standing are anxious. Sameena Qureshi’s family, which has been in the village for 30 years, saw four of their homes demolished. “My husband stores chicken and lamb meat. He also collects skeletons of dead cows. But there was no cow meat. This is a false allegation,”

Edited By: Top Indian News Desk

Last Updated : 19 June 2024, 11:17 AM IST

In Bhainswahi village, Madhya Pradesh, a stark contrast emerges between 11 demolished homes and 16 that remain untouched. The demolitions, executed on June 15, were part of a police operation against cattle smuggling. Authorities claim to have found beef in fridges, animal hides in sacks, and bones in pickup trucks, leading to the razing of the 11 homes, which they assert were built on government land. The remaining 16 homes, although also illegal, were spared as no beef was found.

Police and Authorities' Actions

Inder Baldev, SHO of Nainpur police station, emphasized that the demolition targets were determined by the revenue department. “We demolished the homes where beef was found and left the others alone for now. Leather companies in Jabalpur which bought animal hides and local tribal people who bought cow meat from this gang will be investigated. The NSA will be invoked against five accused who are repeat offenders,” he stated.

All the demolished homes belonged to members of the Qureshi community. One person has been arrested, while 10 remain at large.

Administrative Perspective

Mandla District Collector Saloni Sidana clarified that no specific homes were targeted. “The local administration has been serving notices to residents of this village since 2022. In 2016, a policeman serving a warrant in this village was beaten to death. We managed to remove the illegal structures only after residents fled during the police crackdown. This area was earmarked as semi-forest land for cattle grazing and it was illegally occupied,” she explained.

Sidana noted that the remaining homes were spared due to the timing of Eid and the sensitivity of the situation, but assured that action would be taken against all illegal structures in the village soon. “This exercise is being carried across the district and we have demolished 32 structures in the last month,” she added.

Catalyst for Raids

The raids were prompted by an incident four days earlier in Dithori village, where locals intercepted a truck dragging a cow. The discovery led police to Bhainswahi, which has a history of cattle smuggling-related violence. Nainpur police station houses a bust of constable Kamla Prasad Yadav, who was killed while serving an arrest warrant in a cattle smuggling case. This year alone, 12 cases of cattle smuggling have been registered at the station.

A woman officer involved in the raids remarked, “We cleaned up that village and residents can finally rest easy.”

Impact on Residents

Bhainswahi village, home to around 1,100 residents from tribal and Muslim communities, saw significant upheaval. On July 14, police raided 27 homes, allegedly on 15,000 square feet of government land, leaving behind rubble and debris. Among the personal belongings scattered in the wreckage were a bike, a fan, dry rations, and clothes.

Sultana Qureshi’s home was partially destroyed. “We slept out in the open on Eid. Today it rained and we have three other women in the family who all have one set of clothes. We begged the local sarpanch for help. No one wants us. Everyone here fears their home is next in line for demolition,” she lamented.

Ashiya Qureshi, who has lived in the village for 25 years, expressed confusion over the selective demolitions. “If others’ homes are being destroyed, then so should mine. Only difference is that they claimed to find beef in other homes and not mine,” she said.

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