Authorities in the Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh have demolished parts of the home of Jabbar Khan, who is currently incarcerated on charges related to forcible religious conversion and conducting Christian prayer meetings. This action follows an incident on August 17, when members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal reportedly entered the gathering and assaulted attendees.
A video circulating on social media, released by “Bajrang Dal Sehore,” depicts individuals entering the location where the prayer meeting was held. The caption claimed that police acted on information about a “religious conversion racket” provided by Bajrang Dal members, with the attendees allegedly expressing support for Christianity during questioning.
In the footage, Bibles and other Christian materials are visible, and Jabbar Khan asserts that the house is his property, indicating that the prayer gatherings have been occurring for two years and include participants from various faiths. The video also shows Bajrang Dal members making threats to those present.
Jabbar Khan and his wife, Tahira Khan, were charged under the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021, which governs anti-conversion activities, alleging that Jabbar Khan lured individuals into converting to Christianity.
On August 18, the Sehore Nagar Palika Parishad issued a notice demanding that building permits and other documents be submitted within one day. With Jabbar Khan in custody, his son, Imroz Khan, requested an extension of 15 days to gather the required documentation. However, on September 9, authorities ordered the demolition of an unauthorized floor of their house within three days, linkages to purported religious conversion activities prompting this decision and warning of coercive actions if non-compliance occurred.
During the demolition, VHP members were reportedly heard chanting “Jai Shri Ram.” Following the event, “Bajrang Dal Sehore” posted a celebratory video on Instagram, expressing gratitude to the authorities and explicitly praising the government’s actions against Jabbar Khan.
AC Michael, the National Coordinator of the United Christian Forum (UCF), condemned the incident, asserting that it reflects harassment against minorities, specifically Muslims and Christians. He emphasized that the demolition contradicts the High Court’s rulings and Supreme Court guidelines regarding unlawful demolitions. Michael argued that such actions represent a systematic attempt to stigmatize minorities for political gain and called for legal accountability against the officials involved.
The Supreme Court ruled in November 2025 that demolishing an individual’s home without due process is unconstitutional. The ruling mandates that no demolition should occur without prior notification, where recipients are allowed to respond within local municipal law timelines or within 15 days.
Rights organizations have raised concerns that demolitions linked to accusations of unlawful activities are increasingly prevalent in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Amnesty International’s 2024 report highlighted that between April and June 2022, demolitions executed in BJP-ruled states, including Madhya Pradesh, served as punitive measures and were primarily aimed at Muslim communities.
According to UCF data, 245 incidents of violence against Christians occurred across 19 Indian states within the first four months of 2025. April alone accounted for 49 incidents, amidst January, February, and March reporting 55, 65, and 76 incidents respectively, with Uttar Pradesh recording the highest number of cases.
Tags: Bulldozer justice, Madhya Pradesh, forcible conversions, house demolition, legal issues
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