By Maktoob
More than half of a 59-year-old madrasa was demolished by bulldozers in Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharthnagar district on Tuesday, drawing sharp criticism from opposition leaders and activists, who called the action an “open hate agenda against Muslims” and “unconstitutional”.
The Arabia Zia-ul-Uloom Madrasa, also known as Maktab Madrasa, spread across around 14,000 square feet in Pipra Ramlal village, was demolished after a court order upheld the administration’s claim that it had encroached on government land.
In 2022, five villagers approached the Domariyaganj Tehsildar’s Court seeking the removal of the alleged encroachment, following which the court ordered eviction in 2023.
Madrasa caretaker Abdul Salam challenged the order before the District Magistrate’s Court the same year. After nearly three years of proceedings, the DM’s Court upheld the Tehsildar’s order on August 14, 2026, and dismissed the madrasa’s petition.
The administration subsequently issued a notice directing the removal of the alleged encroachment. Officials said the demolition was carried out after the encroachment was not removed within the stipulated period.
The demolition began around 7 a.m. in the presence of Domariyaganj SDM Vivekanand Mishra, Domariyaganj CO Brijesh Verma and Bansi CO Shivendu Singh, with nearly 100 police personnel from five police stations deployed at the site.
The demolition prompted a protest by Domariyaganj Samajwadi Party MLA Saiyeda Khatoon, SP district president Lalji Yadav and more than 50 party workers, who reached the site and raised slogans against the action.
A heated exchange broke out when police tried to stop the protesters, followed by a minor scuffle.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.
