Sambhal Mosque Demolition: Administration Removes Structure Built on Alleged Graveyard Land, Investigation Launched Over Posters and Flag

Sambhal: A major demolition drive was carried out on Saturday in Kaserua village of Sambhal tehsil, where district authorities initiated action against the Mustafa Qadri Mosque, claiming that a portion of the structure had been constructed on land officially recorded as a graveyard.

The operation was conducted under heavy security arrangements and continued for several hours, resulting in a significant part of the mosque being razed.

Senior district officials, accompanied by a large contingent of police personnel and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) forces, arrived in the village at around 2 p.m. to oversee the exercise.

According to the administration, the mosque occupied approximately 120 square metres of land falling within Gata Number 409, a parcel measuring around 1,200 square metres that is listed in revenue records as cemetery property.

Following the deployment of security forces and administrative teams, demolition work commenced and continued until late in the evening.

The operation was carried out in phases. In the presence of security personnel, workers first dismantled the front section of the structure along with supporting pillars.

Authorities then used a hydraulic crane to bring down a minaret measuring nearly 55 feet in height. By the end of the day’s proceedings, officials estimated that nearly 60 percent of the mosque structure had been removed.

During the demolition, officials reported the recovery of a poster bearing the words “I Love Mohammad” and a green-coloured flag from the first floor of the building.

Authorities stated that an inquiry has been initiated to determine how these items came to be placed inside the premises and whether any individual or group was responsible.

Police officials have indicated that appropriate action will be taken after the investigation is completed.

The demolition drive was supervised by District Magistrate Ankit Khandelwal and Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Bishnoi.

The administrative team included revenue officials, engineers, and support staff.

Two bulldozers, a hydra machine, dump trucks, tractor-trolleys, and a large sanitation workforce were deployed for the operation.

The exercise was also monitored by tehsil-level officers, including revenue inspectors and other officials responsible for land administration.

Before the demolition began, residents were allowed to offer prayers inside the mosque.

Authorities subsequently directed the removal of glass panels and gates and ordered the evacuation of nearby houses as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety during the operation.

According to revenue records cited by the administration, Gata Number 409 is designated as graveyard land. Officials maintain that a portion of the mosque was constructed on this land without legal authorization.

The issue came under scrutiny following complaints seeking the protection of cemetery property.

Subsequent inquiries allegedly found that the land had been occupied through the construction of the mosque.

The matter was later heard under Section 67 proceedings before the Tehsildar Court.

During the course of the hearing, the mosque committee was provided an opportunity to present its case and submit documents supporting its claim.

However, according to administrative authorities, no documentary evidence or records were produced that could establish that the structure had been built on privately owned land.

Following the proceedings, the Tehsildar Court issued an eviction order against the mosque committee on April 21.

The committee subsequently challenged the decision before the District Magistrate’s court.

However, officials said that no stay order or direction suspending the eviction proceedings was granted, allowing the administration to move ahead with enforcement action.

The demolition continued until approximately 8 p.m., by which time a majority of the structure had been dismantled.

Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Bishnoi confirmed that nearly 60 percent of the mosque had been removed and stated that the remaining portion would be addressed during the next phase of the operation.

He further reiterated that police are examining the circumstances surrounding the recovery of the poster and flag from the premises.

Investigators are working to establish who placed the items inside the building and whether any legal violations were involved.

Authorities have stated that any future action will be based on the findings of the ongoing inquiry.