Local authorities in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur district have demolished part of the 185-year-old Noori Jama Masjid, citing encroachment on the Banda-Bahraich Highway.
Just days after the Supreme Court criticized the use of bulldozers in such actions and emphasized the need to uphold the rule of law.
Officials claimed that the demolished section was constructed illegally within the last two to three years, presenting satellite and historical imagery as evidence.
Notices were issued to the mosque’s management and other entities in August, demanding the removal of the alleged encroachments. However, the mosque committee challenged the order in court.
Mohammad Moin Khan, the mosque’s chief caretaker, rejected the encroachment claims, stating that the mosque was built in 1839, well before the highway was constructed in 1956.
Despite this, authorities clarified that only the allegedly encroached section was removed, leaving the main structure intact. Security forces were deployed during the demolition to maintain order, given the potential for unrest.
Rising Tensions Over Historical Sites
On November 25 of last year, police in Sambhal district opened fire on protesters opposing the alleged conversion of the 500-year-old Shahi Jama Masjid into a Hindu temple, killing five Muslims.
The unrest was triggered by a court-ordered survey of the mosque, which was accompanied by members of Hindu nationalist groups. Protests quickly escalated into violent clashes with police, leaving several injured and resulting in internet shutdowns, mass arrests, and strict restrictions in the area.
Accusations of Targeted Discrimination
Critics, including opposition leaders, have accused the ruling BJP government of fostering an environment of targeted discrimination against Muslims under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.
The use of bulldozers to demolish structures, often linked to minority communities, has become a contentious issue, with allegations that such actions are being used as a tool of intimidation.
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