Nainital, Uttarakhand, India – In a shocking development that has sparked outrage among the Muslim community and human rights groups, Indian authorities have demolished 86 permanent houses belonging to Muslim families in Uttarakhand on Saturday, November 1, 2026. The Nainital district administration and the Uttarakhand Forest Department conducted the anti-encroachment drive in Puchhdi village, in the Ramnagar area of Nainital district, according to reports by Daily Inqilab and local sources. What Happened on Nov 1: According to an official statement, the demolition began at 7 AM on Saturday, November 1, 2026. Over 200 police personnel, forest department officials, and revenue department officers reached Puchhdi village with 5 JCB bulldozers and 3 earthmovers. Officials said the houses were built illegally on "forest land" and "revenue land", encroaching on the forest reserve. However, residents claim they have lived there for over 40 years, since the 1980s, and have voter ID cards, Aadhaar cards, electricity bills, and even houses registered under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. "Our fathers and grandfathers cleared this forest and made it cultivable land. We have been paying house tax to gram panchayat for 30 years. Suddenly they say this is forest land," said Mohammad Farooq, 62, whose house was among those demolished. 86 Families Homeless: • Total houses demolished: 86 permanent (pucca) houses • Families affected: Over 400 people, including 150 children, 50 elderly women • Area: Puchhdi village, Ramnagar, Nainital – near Jim Corbett National Park buffer zone • Community: Majority Muslim families belonging to Van Gujjar and other backward Muslim communities who traditionally do cattle rearing Women and children were seen crying as bulldozers razed their homes. Many could save only a few utensils and clothes. Their cattle – buffaloes and goats – were left without shelter in the cold Himalayan winter. "We have nowhere to go. The temperature is 8 degrees here. Our children are sleeping in open fields," said Fatima Begum, a mother of 4. Political Reaction: Muslim organizations including Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Uttarakhand chapter, and Uttarakhand Muslim Federation have condemned the demolition as "bulldozer injustice" and "targeted targeting of the Muslim community." Jamiat leader Maulana Mahmood Madani said, "We will approach the High Court. If houses were on forest land, why were they given electricity, water, and PMAY houses? This is selective targeting." Uttarakhand government has been facing criticism for its anti-encroachment drives in Muslim-dominated areas in Dehradun, Haridwar, and Nainital. The state government said, "This is not about religion. This is about forest protection. The High Court ordered us to clear forest encroachments. Notices were given 15 days ago." But residents say notices were given only 2 days ago and were in Hindi, which many elderly could not read. Legal Status: The families are preparing to file a writ petition in Uttarakhand High Court, Nainital. Lawyers say they have documents proving possession since long time and can claim under Forest Rights Act, 2006. This exclusive ground report on bulldozer demolition of Muslim homes in Uttarakhand was first monitored and exclusively published by Islam Global News. Islam Global News Exclusive – Truth, Justice, A Better Tomorrow Published: 1 November 2026 | By Islam Global News Editorial Desk | Location: Puchhdi Village, Ramnagar, Nainital, Uttarakhand