The Sambhal district administration in Uttar Pradesh has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the committee managing a shrine and mosque in Chaudhary Sarai, directing them to demolish the structures deemed “illegal” as they stand on land officially recorded as a graveyard, officials announced on Wednesday.
Tehsildar Dhirendra Pratap Singh personally visited the site and served a notice to the committee overseeing the mosque and the shrine dedicated to Dada Fakhruddin Rehmatullah. He warned of stringent legal action, including further notices, if the directives are not followed.
Addressing the media, Singh stated that the land is documented solely as a graveyard intended for burial purposes only. “It should be used only for burial purposes and not for a mosque or any other structure,” he emphasised. He also noted that a large weekly market held every Friday at the location now requires prior permission from the sub-divisional magistrate.
The committee has requested 15 days to comply, assuring authorities that the weekly market will be discontinued and the structures removed within the stipulated time.
In response, Mohammad Sultan, a member of the Dada Fakhruddin Rehmatullah shrine committee, defended the structures, asserting that the shrine has existed for generations and is tied to their ancestors. He highlighted its interfaith significance, with visitors from all communities coming to pray.
Sultan further claimed that the graveyard is registered with the Sunni Waqf Board in Lucknow and continues to be used for burials. “The mosque and shrine are places of worship and should remain as they are,” he argued.
This story was originally published in muslimmirror.com.
