This is an archive article published on August 17, 2024
Day after stabbing sparked communal tensions, Udaipur civic body demolishes house of class 10 boy
In a video that circulated soon after the demolition, a man who identified himself as the landlord of the house said there were four other families in the house and all of them were asked to vacate.
A day after the alleged stabbing of a class 10 student by his classmate sparked communal tensions in Udaipur, the city municipal corporation Saturday demolished the house that the 15-year-old accused and his family were renting – on the ground that it “encroached” on forest land.
According to the police, the forest department had issued the family a notice on Saturday morning. “The owner was not able to provide any form of ownership document, after which the house was demolished,” Inspector General, Udaipur range, Ajay Lamba told The Indian Express, adding that the boy and his father have been detained and that “action will be taken according to the Juvenile Justice Act”.
In a video that circulated soon after the demolition, a man who identified himself as the landlord of the house said there were four other families in the house and all of them were asked to vacate.
“The family of the boy who was involved is now living at their relative’s place,” the man, Rashid Khan, is heard saying in the video. “Why is the administration demolishing my house? I went to the municipal corporation but everyone is on leave. I went to the police station but they refused to stop the demolition. This is an injustice towards me – I have lost my house without any fault of mine.”
The stabbing of the schoolboy had set the city on edge, with mobs setting vehicles and shops on fire and also resorting to pelting stones, prompting the district administration to issue prohibitory orders and suspend internet services for 24 hours.
Udaipur Municipal Commissioner Ram Prakash did not respond to calls and messages seeking a comment on the demolition.
Meanwhile, the 15-year-old who was stabbed is stable, officials said. Udaipur Collector Arvind Poswal told the media on Saturday that the situation in the city had normalised and markets that were closed had opened “without any issues”.
Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions.
Expertise and Experience
Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public.
Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas:
Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight.
Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women.
Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use.
Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More
