A 185-year-old mosque in Uttar Pradesh, Fatehpur district was partially demolished by the local authorities on Tuesday. According to officials, the demolished section of Noori Masjid had been encroaching on the Banda-Bahraich Highway, which led them to take action despite strong opposition from the mosque management.
PWD said that a notice on the alleged illegal construction was issued on August 17. Mosque authorities were given a month to correct the issue but instead moved to the High Court against the notice. Authorities say that the encroaching portion, constructed in the last two to three years, was obstructing the highway widening.
185-year-old mosque in Uttar Pradesh demolished by bulldozers
Lalauli police station in-charge Inspector Vrindavan Rai said that around 20 meters of the 185-year-old mosque in Uttar Pradesh were bulldozed. The debris-clearing process has begun, and heavy police and Rapid Action Force deployment ensured the situation remained under control.
However, the mosque’s management disputed these claims. Mohammad Moin Khan, Mutawalli of the mosque, stated that the Noori Masjid had been in place since 1839 while the highway was constructed much later in 1956. “The claim of illegal construction is baseless. The mosque’s structure predates the road,” Khan said, criticizing the demolition.
Additional District Magistrate Avinash Tripathi defended the action, stating that 139 entities, including the mosque, had received notices in August to remove encroachments along the highway. He maintained that the mosque management had previously removed attached shops, and only the later-added portion of the mosque was affected. Historical and satellite images were cited as evidence of recent construction.
The Supreme Court’s recent focus on lawful processes in demolition cases brought the whole process under intense scanner. Critics say that demolishing a 185-year old mosque in Uttar Pradesh suggests the need for greater accountability and due process.
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