Muslim leaders in Siddarthnagar call it a direct attack on identity and education; residents question the timing and intent of bulldozer notices near the Indo-Nepal border
NEW DELHI/SIDDHARTHNAGAR — The fear of losing their places of worship and religious education has returned to haunt the Muslims of Siddharthnagar, a district in Uttar Pradesh bordering Nepal. In a fresh move, the local administration has issued demolition notices to 17 religious sites, including three mosques and 14 madrasas, marking them as “illegal constructions on government land.”
This has caused panic and anger among residents who say the mosques and madrasas have existed for generations and were never questioned before. The notices give the caretakers a short window to respond, failing which, bulldozers may arrive at their doors.
Muslims in the area have described this as “a targeted campaign” and “an act of harassment”, blaming the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government for singling out their religious structures under the pretext of border-area cleanliness and encroachment removal.
“We’ve been praying here since childhood. My father and grandfather prayed here. The madrasa has been teaching the Quran and basic education for decades. How can they suddenly call it illegal?” said Mohammad Azhar, a local teacher from Shohratgarh tehsil, where eight of the 17 targeted sites are located.
According to district officials, the demolitions are part of a larger campaign to clear government land near the Indo-Nepal border. This campaign, which previously reached Bahraich, Shravasti, and Maharajganj, has now made Siddharthnagar its next target.
However, many question why only Muslim religious structures are being picked for this operation.
“If encroachments are being removed, show us the list of temples or other buildings also facing action. Why is it always the mosque and madrasa that become illegal overnight?” asked Arshad Qureshi, a resident of Naugarh, where one of the affected mosques is located.
The Siddharthnagar district administration maintains that the religious structures in question are built on government land, and as per law, action must be taken. They say the caretakers have been given a chance to present their case before any demolition takes place.
“We have served notices under the legal provisions. A hearing will be conducted. If the reply is not satisfactory, further steps will be taken as per rules,” said a senior official from the District Magistrate’s office, requesting anonymity.
But the sudden action has left people disturbed.
“There has never been any such action before. Why now? The government is trying to create fear. These buildings are not new. Some are more than 50 years old,” said Maulana Kaleem, who oversees one of the madrasas on the list.
He added, “Even if there is a problem with the land, can’t the government regularise it? This is not a cinema hall. This is a house of God.”
The madrasas marked for demolition are not just places of religious study; many also provide basic education in maths, science, and languages. Most of these institutions serve children from poor families, who cannot afford private schools.
“This is not just about a building. This is about our future,” said Shabana Khatoon, a mother whose two sons study at a local madrasa in Shohratgarh. “They want to throw our children back into darkness.”
She continued, “If something is wrong with the documents, they should help us solve it. Why punish the children?”
Muslim clerics in the region say they will meet with officials to plead their case. “We will not let our mosques and madrasas be destroyed without a fight. We will show our papers and request them to consider relocation if needed,” said Mufti Saeedur Rahman, a senior cleric.
Many in the community believe the action is part of a larger political strategy by the BJP-led government to keep communal tensions high and divert attention from real issues.
“Every time elections are near or the government faces pressure, bulldozers start moving in Muslim areas,” said Zubair Ahmad, a retired school principal from Siddharthnagar.
He continued, “Why is there no focus on hospitals or schools? Why only bulldozers on madrasas?”
Community leaders also say that targeting religious sites close to the international border is a way to paint Muslims as suspicious or unsafe.
“They always see Muslims living near borders with suspicion. But we are the ones who protect this country, not betray it,” said Nadeem Ansari, a farmer from Bhinga village near the border.
Despite the administration claiming the buildings are on government land, many caretakers say they were never shown any official maps or ownership records. They also say they were not given proper time to prepare their defence.
“They sent one notice and expect a reply within a few days. How can poor villagers respond to legal language and pressure?” asked Maulana Salman, who runs a madrasa near Barhni.
Legal experts say the matter must be handled with care. “Religious structures, especially those decades old, require careful legal and humanitarian handling. A bulldozer should always be the last step, not the first,” said Advocate Shahid Siddiqui, a Lucknow-based lawyer who has handled similar cases.
He added that the state is setting a dangerous precedent by using force instead of dialogue.
Muslim leaders from other districts, such as Bahraich and Maharajganj, where similar actions have already taken place, say they see a clear pattern.
“In Bahraich, dozens of madrasas were shut down or demolished, often with very little warning. Now the same model is being followed in Siddharthnagar,” said Maulana Asim, a cleric from Bahraich.
He warned that this policy is pushing Indian Muslims into a corner. “How long can we survive like this? We are being targeted in the name of law and order, but the real reason is hate.”
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has condemned the move and said it is reviewing legal options.
“This is not about encroachment. This is about hurting the soul of the Muslim community. We urge the courts to take suo motu notice,” said a statement by the board’s secretary Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali.
Civil society groups and human rights organisations have also expressed concern.
“The government cannot operate like a bulldozer state. Every citizen has the right to education and prayer. If something is wrong, resolve it. Don’t destroy it,” said Sadaf Jafar, a social activist based in Lucknow.
Local Muslim leaders have said they will soon approach the Allahabad High Court if the administration refuses to listen.
“We will take all legal paths. We are not encroachers. We are Indians. Our only fault is that we are Muslims,” said Mohammad Zubair, one of the caretakers who received a notice.
He continued, “We want to live with peace and dignity, but they want to keep reminding us that we are second-class citizens.”
Calls have also been made for an independent investigation into how these buildings were marked as illegal.
“If these buildings are really on government land, why were they not questioned in previous governments? What changed now?” asked Mohammad Rizwan, a former village head.
As the days go by, fear continues to grow among families whose lives revolve around these mosques and madrasas. The sound of bulldozers, now a symbol of state power, haunts them even before they arrive.
“Our children cry every time they see news of a mosque being torn down. They ask if their madrasa will be next,” said Nusrat Jahan, a mother of three from Itwa, a nearby village.
For now, the people of Siddharthnagar wait, pray, and hope that their voice reaches those in power before it’s too late.
