By Team Clarion
HARIDWAR/DEHRADUN — Fresh questions have emerged in Uttarakhand after authorities demolished another mazar in Haridwar district as part of an ongoing drive against what the government describes as illegal religious structures on public land.
The latest action took place in the Garhmirpur tehsil area on Tuesday, where officials removed a structure said to have been built on land belonging to the irrigation department. The move is part of a wider campaign under the Pushkar Singh Dhami-led government, which claims that more than 600 such structures — including mazars, mosques and graveyards — have been cleared so far.
The development has led to concern among Muslim organisations and opposition leaders, who are asking whether the action is being carried out in a fair and balanced manner.
A representative of a local Muslim group said, “We are not against action on illegal structures. But it should be equal for all. There should be clarity on whether similar steps are being taken against every kind of encroachment.”
According to district officials, a notice was issued about a month ago to those managing the mazar, asking them to provide documents related to land ownership and construction. When no satisfactory response was received within the given time, the administration went ahead with demolition.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Jitendra Singh said, “All legal procedures were completed before the action. The caretakers had already removed their belongings before the demolition began.”
District Magistrate Mayur Dixit also stated that the action was part of an ongoing effort to free government land from encroachment.
“This is a continuous campaign to remove illegal occupation from public land,” he said. “The law is being applied as per rules.”
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.
