Officials measure 4,780 square metres near the historic mosque, identify houses and shops on cemetery land, promise notices and fair hearings
SAMBHAL — The dispute over a graveyard located next to the Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal has entered a decisive phase, with the district administration completing measurement of the land and preparing action against what it says are illegal occupations. The development has drawn attention not only because of the site’s religious importance to Muslims, but also due to attempts by some groups to give the issue a communal colour.
Officials said the land, spread across 4,780 square metres, is recorded as a graveyard in revenue documents. After a detailed demarcation carried out under police presence, 22 people have been identified as having built houses and shops on the land.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Sadar) Ramanuj Singh said the process was conducted strictly according to records. “The land was measured in the presence of the revenue team and police. When we matched it with official records, it was found that 22 individuals had occupied graveyard land,” he said.
According to the administration, notices will be issued within the next two days. Each person named will be given time to present documents to support their claim. “No one will be treated unfairly. Everyone will get a chance to show valid papers. Only after verification will the next step be taken,” Singh said.
He added that if claims are not supported by lawful records, action will follow under Section 67 of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code. “If documents are not valid, the law is clear. Encroachment will be removed,” he said.
The SDM also stressed that the administration is compiling full details to avoid confusion later. “Our data includes the name of the occupant, the area taken, the type of construction, and how long the land has been occupied,” he said.
Local Muslim residents say the issue is about protecting a burial ground that has been used for generations. “This is not just land, it is a graveyard where our elders are buried,” said a resident living near the mosque. “We only want the records to be respected and the process to be fair.”
Community members also expressed concern over attempts to turn the matter into a Hindu–Muslim dispute. “The administration is doing its job. Dragging religion into it will only disturb peace,” another resident said.
Tensions rose after Hindu organisations expressed anger over photographs of Payal Dev and Mannara Chopra, prominent figures in the entertainment industry, who recently visited Muslim religious sites in the area. Muslim leaders say such reactions are meant to distract from the real issue. “Visiting a mosque or graveyard does not harm anyone. The law should speak, not street pressure,” said a local cleric.
The administration has said maintaining law and order is a priority. “Our aim is not to trouble anyone,” Singh said. “We want to preserve public and religious land in its original form, as per records.”
As the notice process begins, many in Sambhal hope the matter will be handled calmly, with respect for Muslim religious rights and without giving space to communal pressure or selective outrage.
