Uttar Pradesh administration and police authorities demolished the Mustafa Qadri Mosque in Sambhal district on Saturday [1, 2].
The action underscores a continuing trend of aggressive land-encroachment enforcement in the region, where the state government frequently uses demolition to reclaim public property.
The demolition took place in Kaserva village, located within the Sambhal district [1, 2, 3]. According to authorities, the mosque was constructed illegally on government land that had been specifically reserved for a graveyard [1, 2, 3]. This determination led to an official eviction order and the subsequent removal of the structure.
Reports indicate that the mosque occupied a 120-square-metre plot of land [3]. The operation was carried out by the local administration and police to ensure the area was cleared of the alleged encroachment [1, 2].
The move comes amid a broader land ownership row in the area [1]. Officials said the demolition was a necessary step to restore government land to its intended use as a burial ground [2, 3].
Security forces were deployed during the process to maintain order in Kaserva village as the bulldozers cleared the site [1, 2]. The administration said that the eviction order was issued following a verification of land records, which confirmed the illegal nature of the construction [2].
“The mosque was constructed illegally on government land that had been specifically reserved for a graveyard.”
This event reflects the Uttar Pradesh government's ongoing policy of using 'bulldozer action' to resolve land disputes and remove unauthorized structures. By targeting a religious site on the grounds of land-use violations, the administration emphasizes a strict adherence to land records, though such actions often trigger wider social and political tensions regarding land ownership and religious infrastructure in the state.
