NEW DELHI/SAMBHAL – A madrasa in Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh was demolished by the authorities on Thursday as part of an action against alleged “illegal encroachments”. The drive, carried out in Naroli Nagar Panchayat, also led to eight to ten nearby houses being declared illegal. A large police presence turned the locality into what residents described as a “police camp”, with tension spreading across the area from early morning.
The demolition took place in the Banjari Koan locality of Naroli town, which falls under the Baniyathar police station area of Tehsil Chandausi. The demolished structure, Darul Uloom Madrasa, was built on 285 square metres of land. According to the district administration, the land falls under plots numbered 1635 and 1636, which are recorded in revenue documents as land meant for compost pits and a public road.
Officials said the constructions, including the madrasa and several houses, were illegal. However, members of the Muslim community in the area have questioned both the process and the timing of the action.
Heavy Security
Even before the bulldozer moved in, members of the local Muslim community had begun vacating the madrasa. Books and furniture were seen being taken out as police personnel formed a cordon around the site.
A heavy police force was deployed during the operation. Personnel from five police stations were present, along with a Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) unit. Senior officers, including Sub-District Magistrate (SDM) Chandausi Ashutosh Tiwari, Naib Tehsildar Satyendra Chahar and Circle Officer (CO) Chandausi Manoj Kumar Singh, were at the spot to supervise the operation.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.
