Tension has emerged in Gaushala Pashmi, a predominantly Hindu area of Muzaffarnagar, after Hindutva activists opposed a Muslim family’s recent house purchase and labelled it “house jihad.”
Ali Hasan, who bought the property, alleged that groups of men visited his home and pressured his family to leave. He said four to five known individuals and 15 to 20 others came on different occasions, asked them to vacate, and issued threats. According to Hasan, the activists claimed Muslims were not needed in the locality and organised demonstrations to mobilise residents against the family’s presence. Posters announcing continuous meetings appeared in the area.
Both sides have filed complaints at the Kotwali police station. Each has accused the other of intimidation and creating disturbance. Police have not detailed any action so far.
The Congress party criticised the Uttar Pradesh government, alleging that such actions embolden extremist elements. Senior state leader Anil Yadav said the party would send a delegation to support the family and urged authorities to act to maintain communal harmony.
Similar disputes have surfaced earlier in Muzaffarnagar and nearby districts. In 2024, a Muslim buyer reportedly sold his property after facing sustained opposition. In Moradabad, protests broke out in a Hindu majority housing society after a house was sold to a Muslim doctor, with residents demanding reversal of the sale.