Maharashtra: 15 shops bulldozed in Mira Road after clashes ahead of Ram temple inauguration

Civic authorities in Mira-Bhayandar, a municipality near Mumbai, on Tuesday bulldozed several shops in an area where violence was reported ahead of the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Maruti Gaikwad, deputy municipal commissioner in Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation, told Scroll that 15 illegal shops were demolished on Tuesday afternoon. “There were illegal structures on nullah and on footpaths,” Gaikwad said, without confirming whether the structures belonged to those accused of taking part in the clashes.

No notice was issued before the shops were bulldozed. Gaikwad said since the structures were illegal, the civic body was not bound to issue a notice. The structures were over five years old.

Vilas Supe, senior police inspector, Naya Nagar police station, denied that any of the shops belonged to the 13 accused who were arrested in connection with communal clashes that broke out in the area on Sunday night and Monday morning.

A resident of the area, who is also an activist, told Scroll on the condition of anonymity that the structures belonged to Muslims. However, he said that they were not related to the 13 persons who had been arrested.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nitesh Rane also held a protest outside the police commissioner’s office in Mira Bhayandar. He demanded strict action against those who...

Read more