In a pre-dawn operation on Monday, March 30, 2026, the Uttar Pradesh administration in Sitapur district demolished a mosque in Naigaon Behati village, Leharpur area. Officials stated the structure, allegedly constructed 12 years ago on government land designated as a pond, was removed after the owners ignored repeated notices and a court order.10
Additional District Magistrate Nitish Kumar led the action, arriving at the site around 3 am with senior officials and three bulldozers. Around 500 police personnel, including senior officers, were deployed to ensure law and order.
The demolition was carried out amid tight security and completed without any major untoward incident. Authorities justified the early morning timing due to the site’s location along a main road, aiming to minimize traffic disruption.
The dispute dates back several years. The local Gram Sabha had complained that the mosque was illegally built on land reserved for a pond and a cemetery. A formal case was registered on December 18, 2025.
On January 6, 2026, the tehsil court declared the construction illegal, ordered eviction, and directed the removal of the structure and related items within the given timeframe.
When the deadline passed without compliance, the administration issued a notice under Section 67 of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code. Still, the encroachment was not cleared, leading to the demolition drive. Officials emphasized that removing illegal constructions from government land remains a top priority, and the action was taken strictly as per the law.
Maulana Abdul Rahman, associated with the mosque, described the matter as “political” and declined to comment further.
This story was originally published in muslimmirror.com. Read the full story here.
