• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. The "illegal" mosque in the Saharanpur Collectorate complex demolished.
  2. Demolition upheld by district judge, heavy security deployed.
  3. Political reactions, MP Iqra Hasan under house arrest.

The demolition of an illegal mosque began during the early hours of Saturday in UP’s Saharanpur, after a district judge court decided to uphold a previous order. The operation started with heavy security deployed across the Collectorate premises.

Administrative officials, including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and City Magistrate, were present as bulldozers initiated the demolition. Security forces included a significant number of police personnel and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), and all gates to the complex were closed as a precaution.

What’s the case?

In 2025, Bajrang Dal’s former provincial convener, Vikas Tyagi, filed a complaint stating that a mosque built within the Collectorate complex was illegal. The complex was also being used for commercial purposes, posing a security threat to the Collectorate complex, he added. The case had been pending in the City Magistrate Court for over a year.
On July 17, the City Magistrate court declared the mosque illegal. Subsequently, the District Judge's Court, in its order three days ago, upheld the City Magistrate's order.

Congress MP Imran Masood Reacts

On the demolition of the Saharanpur mosque, Congress MP Imran Masood says, "Look, it’s not just about the mosque. It’s not just the mosque that has been affected; the law of the country and the Constitution are being violated. You cannot prove that the land belongs to you. Based on the Khasra records, you have claimed that this is government collectorate land. But even today, the collectorate land is recorded in the names of Waheed Khan and Yakub Khan, within whose zamindari the mosque was built. It is still registered in their names.

The mosque is registered with the Waqf Board, but you did not make the Waqf Board a party. As far as Waqf by User is concerned, I was a member of the JPC, and Waqf by User establishes that it is a mosque. There are bills for it, prayers have been continuously offered there, and all these activities have been taking place."

Iqra Hasan Under House Arrest

MP Iqra Hasan was placed under house arrest as she was leaving for Saharanpur amid the demolition drive. A large police force arrived at her residence and prevented her from leaving her house.

Hasan claimed she wanted to meet with officials at the Saharanpur Collectorate regarding the mosque issue. She wanted to present the voices of the people of the area to the administration. She alleged that she has been placed under house arrest to prevent her from going to Saharanpur.


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