India: 40 Hindu Families List Homes for Sale Following Harassment, Allege Police Inaction

Image: Jihad Watch

An entire neighbourhood in Agra’s Bhagwan Nagar colony has been gripped by anger, anxiety, and a deep sense of insecurity after nearly 40 Hindu families simultaneously put up “house for sale” notices outside their homes. The dramatic and coordinated move is being described by residents as an act of protest and desperation, as families allege sustained harassment by local Muslim youths and a complete failure of authorities to provide protection or timely justice. What was once a simmering local dispute has now escalated into a major law-and-order issue with serious communal sensitivity in Uttar Pradesh.

Bhagwan Nagar, which falls under the Kamla Nagar police station limits, presented an unusual and disturbing sight this week. In Block-A, more than 40 homes displayed posters reading “मकान बिकाऊ है” and “मकान बेचना है.” For residents, these notices are not merely about property transactions but serve as a public distress signal — a symbolic declaration that their sense of safety, faith in policing, and confidence in the local security environment have all eroded.

According to local reports and residents’ accounts, the affected lane is predominantly Hindu, and families claim that daily life has become increasingly difficult. Many say they no longer feel secure allowing their children or women to step outside even for routine activities. They allege repeated confrontations, threats, and intimidation by a group of local Muslim youths, creating an atmosphere of constant tension and fear. Several residents have openly spoken about “palaayan” (forced migration), warning that they may be compelled to abandon their homes if security and justice are not restored.

Tensions reportedly reached a breaking point on 2 February, during a family function at one of the houses in Bhagwan Nagar. During the ceremony, a local youth identified in Hindi media reports as “Sunny” allegedly entered the house uninvited and provoked an argument, which soon escalated into a physical altercation inside the premises.

Eyewitnesses cited in reports claim that during the scuffle, there was an attempt to snatch or damage a gold chain, resulting in a deep cut to the victim’s neck that required medical stitches. Neighbours allege that this was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of recurring disputes, verbal abuse, and intimidation over seemingly minor issues. They say this particular episode convinced many families that normal, peaceful life in the lane was no longer possible.

Women in the locality have emerged as some of the most vocal participants in the protest, alleging repeated incidents of misbehaviour, aggressive entry into homes, and harassment by the accused youths. One woman, identified in Hindi media as Preeti Agarwal, has alleged that when she objected to such conduct, she was verbally abused, manhandled, and subjected to obscene language inside her own home — an incident that further deepened fears among women in the neighbourhood.

Residents describe what they see as a clear and troubling pattern: groups of young Muslim men allegedly entering the lane, picking quarrels, using abusive language, and, when challenged, turning violent in an attempt to intimidate and terrorise those who resist. Families say this climate of fear has forced them to severely restrict the movement of girls and women, altering their daily routines and social life.

For many households, the decision to paste “house for sale” posters is being portrayed not as a real estate choice, but as a last-resort cry for help. Several residents insist that unless what they describe as unchecked “dabangai” (goondaism) is curbed and firm police action is taken, they see no alternative but to sell their homes and leave the area — turning Bhagwan Nagar into yet another symbol of alleged forced displacement driven by fear and administrative inaction.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)