Bareilly violence: Tauqeer Raza's aides are being targeted, and homes valued at ₹170 cr have already been shut

The Bareilly Development Authority (BDA) sealed more than ₹170 crore worth of properties on Sunday as part of its ongoing demolition campaign against illegal structures connected to persons suspected of being involved in the September 26 violence. Action was taken at Raza Palace, a marriage hall in the Jakheera neighborhood that is owned by a main accused, Nafees Khan, also known as Dr. Nafees, for the second day in a row.

With the support of a large police presence, the BDA team arrived at the location at around 10 a.m. and used two bulldozers to completely destroy the hall. Locals did not resist, and the operation was overseen by police and administrative officials. According to BDA joint secretary Deepak Kumar, there was no approved building design for the marriage hall.

A household map was being used to operate the hall. In 2024, Nafees received notice but was not approved. "No document was produced to prove its legality, even during the demolition," he claimed. Four bulldozers were used for over six hours on Saturday, the first day of the action, to tear down parts of the hall. The structure was also dismantled by seven laborers using hammers. The demolition order was issued five months prior, according to officials.