[Khargone demolition] Plea in Supreme Court seeks SIT probe headed by retired Supreme Court judge; compensation for "illegal" demolitions

A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking a free and fair investigation by a court-monitored special investigation team (SIT) into the demolition of properties of suspected rioters in the Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh [Raziya Mansoori & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.]. .The plea moved by those affected by the demolition has sought urgent intervention by the top court to stop what was termed in the petition as 'illegal and arbitrary acts' by local administration of Khargone.The administration has been demolishing houses and businesses of petitioners, suspected to be involved in the violence where a group of miscreants allegedly pelted stones at a Ram Navami procession on April 10, thus triggering large scale violence in many parts of the district.As per the petition, on April 10, a Ram Navami procession allegedly played objectionable songs on DJ and used instigative communal slogans while crossing the Talab Chowk area near Jama Masjid in the Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh, that led to heated arguments between two religious groups.Thereafter, communal violence broke out near Talab Chowk in Khargone when a Ram Navami procession was pelted stones at by a group of rioters that triggered arson, ransacking of shops, torching vehicles and properties in many parts of the district, the plea pointed out. The next day, the State government ordered demolition of properties of rioters involved in the communal violence for recovery of damages. Accordingly, the Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra declared in the media that houses of rioters involved in the violence will be torn down, the plea stated.It alleged that the local administration in Madhya Pradesh have demolished several properties of the petitioners on the pretext or misconceived surmise that they were associated with alleged suspects of the Ram Navami violence in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh."Around 16 houses and 29 shops were demolished by the authorities, mostly owned by people of Muslim community, citing their involvement in the communal violence," the plea highlighted.The demolition of properties of such persons is even more alarming as the administration, acting as an executor, has been giving punishments that are not even prescribed for the offences allegedly committed by the targeted persons."Thus, these acts of the authorities not only reverse the burden of proof against the alleged offenders, they also prevent the accused persons from adequately defending themselves against the allegations," the plea stated..The plea filed through advocate Adeel Ahmed, sought compensation and reconstruction of the affected properties and establishments of the petitioners.The plea sought a probe by a SIT headed by retired Supreme Court judge into the incident and for strict action to be taken against officials of the State machinery who have participated in the allegedly illegal exercise.