No Village for Young Men

Earlier this month, Asalat Nagar village in Moradabad, the constituency of MP Mohammad Azharuddin, was in the news for violent clashes between the police and villagers.

Earlier this month, Asalat Nagar village in Moradabad, the constituency of MP Mohammad Azharuddin, was in the news for violent clashes between the police and villagers. The latter had accused the police of ‘desecrating the Quran’ by throwing it on the floor during a raid. Now, amid reports of youth and children being picked up by the police and allegations of CCTV cameras installed at the entrance of the village to monitor traffic (media reports spoke of Azharuddin being taken into preventive custody when he tried to enter), the village is facing a new crisis. Says advocate Javed Rashid, “Young people have fled the village in fear of being detained by the police. Only women, children and the elderly remain now.”

About The Author

Pallavi Polanki