mosque-madrassa-built-on-govt-land-razed-in-up-s-sambhal

A mosque and madrassa constructed on government land in Mubarakpur Band village of Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district were demolished on Friday as part of an ongoing anti-encroachment drive, officials said.

 

The structures were built on land officially recorded in revenue records as a village playground and a site for compost pits. The demolition was carried out using bulldozers and JCB machines in the presence of District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya and Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar.

 

Officials said the action was taken after the structures were identified as illegal encroachments during a comprehensive survey conducted over the past six months across Sambhal district as part of a drive to create a “land bank” by reclaiming government land.

Also read: Mosque committee flags communal concerns over Sambhal padyatra

 

Naib tehsildar Bablu Kumar said the land was classified as government property and villagers were initially asked to remove the encroachments voluntarily. However, as they were unable to fully dismantle the structures, the administration proceeded with the demolition.

 

He said the drive is part of a district-wide exercise to clear encroachments from government land and ensure proper utilisation of public property.

 

Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar said the district administration is implementing directives to prepare a land bank in every village. He said detailed surveys were carried out over several months under joint supervision of revenue officials and police teams.

 

According to officials, the survey identified multiple instances of encroachment across villages in the district. So far, around 125 hectares of government land have been reclaimed and later allotted for various government schemes.

 

The SP added that similar drives will continue in other villages as part of the ongoing campaign to remove illegal encroachments and recover public land.

Authorities said the exercise is being carried out in coordination with revenue officials, police personnel and local administration to ensure systematic identification and removal of encroachments.