The district administration started demolishing the three-story Madni mosque on Sunday after the court’s stay order expired. The demolition has sparked a lot of discussions about the legality of the mosque’s construction.

What led to the demolition?

The mosque was first accused of being built illegally in 1999 when a local leader, Ram Bachchan Singh, complained about it. But back then, no action was taken. The issue came up again in December 2023, when the local authorities started an investigation. The municipal administration then sent three notices to the mosque committee, asking them to show legal documents to prove the mosque was built legally. Since the mosque could not provide the required documents, it was declared illegal.

On February 8, the high court's order to stop the demolition ended. With no more legal problems, the authorities began demolishing the mosque. The demolition started at 10 AM, and there was a strong police presence for security. The area around the mosque was sealed, and extra security measures were put in place to prevent any issues.

What does the mosque committee say?

Haji Hamid, the chief organiser of the Madni Masjid Committee, denied that the mosque was built illegally. He stated, "The mosque was built on legal land. The administration is taking one-sided action without hearing our side, and we will approach the court against it." Even with his claims, the district officials have continued with the demolition process.

Authorities, including Circle Officer Kundan Singh and SDM Yogeshwar Singh, were present at the site to ensure that the demolition went smoothly. SDM Singh mentioned, “I am here to maintain law and order; the rest of the action is being carried out through legal means.” The demolition is expected to continue into the night.

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