Lucknow: As part of an extensive anti-encroachment campaign, authorities in Uttar Pradesh have demolished more than 20 mosques and madrasas situated within a 15-kilometre radius of the India-Nepal border, according to an official statement released by the state government on Sunday.
The drive was carried out under Section 67 of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, targeting encroachments on government land across several border districts — Bahraich, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar, Maharajganj, Balrampur, and Lakhimpur Kheri. Hundreds of illegal structures were reportedly removed during the operation.
In the Shravasti district, officials took action against 17 unauthorized madrasas — 10 located in Bhinga tehsil and another seven in Jamunha tehsil.
In Siddharthnagar district, five illegal constructions, including a mosque and a madrasa, were demolished in Naugarh tehsil. Authorities also identified six other unauthorized structures in Shohratgarh tehsil for further action.
In Lakhimpur Kheri district’s Palia tehsil, a mosque under illegal construction at Krishna Nagar Colony was torn down. Officials noted that religious prayers were already being conducted at the site before its removal.
Meanwhile, in Bahraich’s Nanpara tehsil, a total of 227 encroachments were identified near the border.
Of these, 63 had already been removed in previous phases of the campaign, and an additional 26 were cleared between April 25 and 27, bringing the total cleared sites to 89.
Authorities clarified that no religious or educational structures were found among the encroachments removed in Nanpara.
In the Maharajganj district, encroachments were located in the Farenda, Nautanwa, and Nichlaul tehsils. While one of the cases is currently pending in court, eviction and demolition proceedings are ongoing for the remaining sites, the government said.
Similarly, in Balrampur district, officials reported seven cases of encroachment — five in Balrampur tehsil and two in Tulsipur tehsil. While two individuals vacated the land voluntarily, authorities have initiated legal eviction proceedings against the others.
The state government has emphasized that the campaign aims to reclaim public land and ensure lawful land usage in sensitive border regions. The use of legal provisions and district-level coordination has been key to the execution of this large-scale drive.