Authorities moved heavy machinery into parts of Jaipur district on Friday, demolishing structures they described as illegal only days after violence broke out near the Chomu bus stand, a step officials said was aimed at restoring order and enforcing municipal rules.Beginning at 8 am, bulldozers operated for about six hours across a narrow stretch between Imam Chowk and Pathan Mohalla, where officials said 20 unauthorised constructions were pulled down and three buildings sealed. The operation followed notices issued to property owners, according to district officials, who maintained that due process had been followed before action was taken.
Police said the demolished or sealed premises were linked to individuals allegedly involved in the clash that erupted near the bus stand earlier in the week. During searches conducted alongside the demolition drive, officers claimed to have recovered an air gun and sharp-edged weapons from some of the sites, adding that these findings were documented as part of an ongoing investigation.
The violence near the transport hub had triggered heightened security in the area, with additional police deployments and restrictions on movement imposed to prevent further flare-ups. Senior officers said the unrest involved stone-throwing and damage to vehicles, prompting multiple detentions and the registration of cases under sections relating to rioting and unlawful assembly. Officials did not disclose the number of arrests, citing the sensitivity of the probe.
District administrators described Friday’s action as a routine enforcement exercise carried out under municipal and urban development laws. “Notices were served and sufficient time was given,” an official said, adding that structures found to be in violation were targeted irrespective of ownership. The administration stressed that the exercise was not punitive but corrective, intended to address encroachments that had persisted despite earlier warnings.
The move, however, has drawn scrutiny from civil liberties groups and opposition leaders, who questioned the timing of the demolitions and whether they amounted to collective punishment. Critics argued that linking property action to alleged involvement in violence risks undermining legal safeguards, especially when guilt has not been established by a court. They called for transparency on the criteria used to identify structures for demolition and the legal provisions invoked.
Officials countered that the action was consistent with established procedures and denied any selective targeting. A senior police officer said the presence of weapons at some premises underscored the seriousness of the law-and-order challenge faced by authorities. “Our priority is to ensure public safety and prevent a repeat of the violence,” the officer said.
Legal experts note that such demolition drives have become a contentious tool across several states, often justified as urban regulation while raising questions about proportionality and intent. Courts have repeatedly held that administrative action must be detached from criminal allegations unless backed by clear statutory authority and due process. In earlier rulings, higher courts have cautioned against the use of bulldozers as a deterrent linked to criminal cases, emphasising that property rights cannot be curtailed without lawful adjudication.
Within Jaipur district, residents of the affected neighbourhoods expressed mixed reactions. Some welcomed the move, saying illegal constructions had narrowed lanes and hampered emergency access for years. Others said families were left scrambling as parts of homes or shops were torn down, insisting they had contested the notices or were awaiting hearings. Community representatives urged the administration to provide clarity on rehabilitation measures for those displaced.