Authorities in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, have demolished the illegal mansion of Haji Shahzad Ali, a former Congress district vice president, who was identified as the mastermind behind recent communal tensions in the city. The mansion, reportedly worth Rs 10 crore, was modelled after a palace from the Bollywood film Narsimha. Constructed without permission in 2017, the lavish property spanned 20,000 square feet and was targeted as part of ongoing police action against those inciting violence.
Background of the communal unrest
The unrest began on August 21 when a Muslim mob, agitated by a statement made by Hindu saint Ramgiri Maharaj in Maharashtra, gathered to protest at a police station in Chhatarpur. The protest quickly turned violent, with the mob pelting stones at the police station, injuring officers inside. Authorities identified Shahzad Ali, along with several others, as key instigators of the violence.
Shehzad Ali's illegal mansion in Chhatarpur.
Political reactions and ongoing operations
The demolition has sparked a political outcry, with Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi criticising the BJP government for what he claims is a targeted action against Muslims. Meanwhile, the police continue to crack down on illegal constructions linked to the violence, with bulldozers searching for more properties connected to the perpetrators.
A palace from the Bollywood film Narsimha.
Also read | Palace-like 'kothi' of key accused in stone-pelting incident in Chhatarpur demolished | Watch
