up-govt-begins-mosque-demolition-in-sambhal-over-land-dispute

The Uttar Pradesh administration on Saturday began demolishing the Mustafa Qadri Mosque in Sambhal district after authorities claimed the structure had been built on government land and legal challenges mounted by the mosque committee were rejected.

 

Four bulldozers were deployed for the demolition operation at the mosque, situated on a 120-square-metre plot, while a heavy deployment of police and revenue officials maintained security at the site.

 

The dispute stems from a revenue survey conducted in January, during which officials concluded that the land occupied by the mosque was recorded as government property in official records.

 

According to the administration, a subsequent inquiry found that the property had been registered with the Waqf Board despite revenue documents showing state ownership of the land. Officials alleged that records indicating government ownership were not disclosed during the registration process.

 

Following the inquiry, an FIR was registered against seven members of the mosque committee over alleged irregularities linked to the registration of the property.

Also read: Mosque, madrassa built on govt land razed in UP’s Sambhal

 

The Tehsildar's court issued an eviction order on April 21, directing the removal of what authorities described as an illegal encroachment. The mosque committee subsequently challenged the order before the District Magistrate's court, but the appeal was rejected, paving the way for demolition proceedings under Section 67 of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code.

 

The operation was carried out under the supervision of Tehsildar Dhirendra Kumar and Naib Tehsildar Deepak Jurail. District Magistrate Ankit Khandelwal and Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar Bishnoi were also present at the site.

 

The action comes a day after authorities demolished the Khere Wale Baba Chaman Shah Baba Dargah Sharif in Gunnour tehsil, also citing encroachment on government land. Revenue authorities said the shrine stood on nearly 24 square metres of public land and that courts had upheld eviction orders in the case.

 

However, Aziz, the caretaker of the shrine, disputed the administration's claims, maintaining that the religious site was 500 to 600 years old and dedicated to a revered saint.