The move comes after administration reclassified inhabited land as a cremation ground, sparking questions about minority rights and administrative fairness
SHAHJAHANPUR – A recent administrative action in Jalalabad tehsil in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur city has reignited debates over alleged discrimination against minorities. The district administration demolished over 40 houses in Roli Bori village, declaring the land a cremation ground despite previously registering it as inhabited and issuing leases to residents.
The operation, conducted with a heavy police presence, involved three SDMs, one SDM judicial officer, three Circle Officers, and personnel from multiple police stations along with PAC units, fire brigade vehicles, and ambulances for security.
ADM Rajneesh Kumar Mishra explained the rationale for the action: “Approximately 15 bighas of land in Roli Bori village belongs to the cremation ground. Eviction proceedings were initiated by the Jalalabad Tehsil Court, and notices were issued to the alleged encroachers. When the owners refused to vacate the land, the demolition of the houses was carried out in the presence of police and administrative officials.”
Reports indicate that the land was previously marked as inhabited, with leases provided to residents and even a government school constructed there. Tasavvur Ali, husband of a district panchayat member, expressed outrage over the action: “A man from the Thakur community donated this land for a cremation ground long ago, but no funerals were ever performed here. In 1990, the land was registered as inhabited, and leases were allotted. Now, suddenly, the administration has reversed its own orders and demolished our homes.”
He added that affected families had previously won legal cases in the Jalalabad SDM court and later in the Divisional Commissioner’s court, but in 2024 the administration rescinded these decisions and reclassified the land as a cremation ground.
The demolition has sparked criticism from residents and observers, who question the fairness and timing of the administration’s decision. A local activist said, “This action disproportionately affects the Muslim community, raising serious concerns about minority rights and administrative bias.”
Meanwhile, reports suggest that a local Hindu organisation had demanded the land be vacated for use as a cremation ground, prompting the administration to mark houses with red paint before the bulldozer operation.
The Shahjahanpur incident highlights ongoing tensions over land use, community rights, and administrative accountability in Uttar Pradesh. Residents are calling for clarity and justice, while the district administration maintains that the demolition was legally sanctioned and necessary to enforce the designation of the land as a cremation ground.
