Outrage in India as liquor shop placed opposite Muslim cemetery
Move in India’s most populous state Uttar Pradesh condemned as part of wider pattern of state-back disrespect toward Islamic religious spaces
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Tensions flared in northern India this week after authorities relocated a liquor shop to a site directly opposite a Muslim cemetery, sparking protests in the state of Uttar Pradesh and fueling accusations of targeted disrespect toward Islamic religious sites.
The unrest unfolded in Chak Majra Rehramau, a village in Barabanki district, where hundreds of residents — including women and members of other faiths — staged a road blockade demanding the immediate removal of the outlet. The shop, previously located in a local market, was moved under official orders to a property opposite the cemetery along the Bansa-Safdarganj road.
According to The Clarion India, the new location was approved without community consultation. The shop, licensed to Avinash Jaiswal, was shifted after its former site was repurposed for a marriage hall. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from locals who see it as a provocation against a marginalized community.
“It is shameful that the administration allowed a liquor shop to open right in front of our cemetery,” said Sabir Abul Hasan, a resident. “This is not just disrespect to us Muslims but to all who hold the graveyard sacred.”
Activists say the incident reflects a broader pattern in Uttar Pradesh, where Muslim religious sites — including mosques, madrasas, tombs, and Idgahs — have faced demolitions, encroachments, and administrative crackdowns in recent months. These actions have intensified fears of systemic erasure and communal targeting under the current political leadership.
“They’ve bulldozed our mosques, sealed our madrasas, and now even our graveyards aren’t spared,” said Mohammad Alam, a local resident. “This government is sending a message: Muslims don’t belong.”
Authorities responded to the protest by dispatching senior officials to the scene. Inspector Incharge Arun Pratap Singh and Excise Inspector Ram Shyam Tripathi assured residents that the liquor shop would be temporarily returned to its previous location for one week while a new site is identified in consultation with the community.
Despite the assurance, protesters submitted a written complaint to the district magistrate demanding the permanent relocation of the shop outside the residential area.
“We are peaceful people,” said Saleha Khatoon. “But peace comes with mutual respect. Our graveyards are sacred, and putting a liquor shop there is nothing less than deliberate provocation.”
Observers say the Barabanki incident highlights growing discontent over state actions perceived to marginalize India’s 200-million-strong Muslim population — not just socially, but spatially.
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