Police begin construction of the outpost in Achoda Kamboh village with a religious ceremony attended by BJP district chief and Hindu religious figures
NEW DELHI – A fresh controversy has unfolded in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district after a mosque was demolished and the cleared land was quickly used to lay the foundation of a police outpost, with the presence of BJP leaders and Hindu religious figures at the ceremony. The incident has left the local Muslim community shaken, raising sharp questions about equal treatment, religious freedom and the role of political figures in state-run projects.
The case relates to Achoda Kamboh village, where the administration declared a mosque to be an illegal structure and issued notices for its removal. Soon after the structure was razed, groundwork began for a police outpost at the same site. The foundation-laying ceremony included a havan and Vedic chants, attended by Circle Officer Kuldeep Singh and BJP district president Harendra Singh Rinku, along with saints linked to Shri Kalki Dham.
For many Muslims in the area, the speed of events and the manner in which they unfolded have caused pain and fear. “This was a place of prayer for us,” said a local. “It was not just bricks and walls. Seeing it removed and then a religious ceremony held for the police building on the same land hurts deeply.”
According to the administration, the mosque was built on government land recorded as a khalihaan, or common land, and therefore illegal. Officials said notices were served, giving time to remove the structure. When the deadline passed, the administration moved in with bulldozers.
A senior official claimed the action followed procedure. “Notices were issued and time was given,” an officer said. “The land belongs to the government. After the structure was not removed fully within the period, action was taken as per the rules.”
However, members of the Muslim community contest this account. They say the mosque had existed for years and that the process felt rushed and one-sided. “If it was really illegal, why was it allowed to stand for so long?” asked a local elder. “Why is only a mosque seen as illegal, while many other structures on public land remain untouched?”
Media reports say that after receiving notices, members of the Muslim community themselves began removing parts of the mosque with hammers, hoping this might prevent harsh action. Despite this, the administration later used bulldozers to flatten what remained.
A young man from the village said, “We tried to show cooperation. We were scared of violence and arrests. Still, the bulldozer came. It felt like no matter what we did, the result was already decided.”
Community leaders say the use of heavy machinery against a place of worship sends a harsh message. “The bulldozer has become a symbol of fear for Muslims,” said a local cleric. “It is used quickly and loudly, without proper dialogue.”
What has added fuel to the controversy is the foundation ceremony for the police outpost. Videos and photographs showing BJP district president Rinku taking part in the ritual alongside police officers and saints have circulated widely.
Many residents have asked why a political leader, holding no government post, was part of an official police project. “If this is a government police outpost, why is a BJP leader laying the foundation?” asked a resident. “It makes us feel the state machinery and one party are working together.”
Opposition voices and rights groups say such participation blurs the line between administration and politics. A local activist said, “Police are meant to be neutral. When political leaders and religious rituals enter their construction, minorities naturally fear bias.”
The presence of Hindu saints and the performance of a havan for a police outpost on land where a mosque stood until recently has further hurt sentiments. Muslims say this act deepens the wound.
“This land had a mosque,” said a shopkeeper near the site. “Now there are Vedic chants and saints. It feels like our faith has been pushed aside.”
Some residents said they would not have objected to a police outpost elsewhere. “We need police for safety,” said an elderly man. “But why here, and why in this way?”
Officials have defended the plan, saying the police outpost is meant to improve law and order in the area. They also said the construction will be done with public help and support from Shri Kalki Dham.
A police officer involved in the project said, “The outpost will help control crime and respond faster to incidents. It is for everyone, including Muslims.”
On the question of the BJP leader’s presence, no clear explanation has been given so far. The district administration has not issued a detailed statement addressing concerns about political involvement.
Despite assurances, fear runs deep among Muslim families living nearby. Many worry that a police outpost built on the site of a demolished mosque, with visible political backing, may not treat them fairly in the future.
“How can we trust this police post?” asked a woman whose house is close to the site. “From the start, it feels hostile to us.”
Others fear more such actions. “Today it is this mosque, tomorrow it could be another,” said a community elder. “Once a message is sent that our places of worship can be removed easily, nothing feels safe.”
Legal experts say that while the state has the power to remove illegal structures, extra care is needed when religious places are involved. “Due process must not only be followed, it must be seen to be followed,” said a lawyer from Moradabad. “Otherwise, actions look selective and unfair.”
He added that using the same land immediately for another purpose, especially one linked with power like the police, raises moral questions. “The timing matters. Sensitivity matters.”
Opposition parties have criticised the incident, accusing the ruling party of mixing religion, politics and administration. A Samajwadi Party leader said, “This government talks about law and order but allows political leaders to stand on police platforms. This is wrong.”
Congress leaders also questioned the action. “Bulldozers against mosques and then a show of power sends a dangerous signal,” a party spokesperson said.
Local Muslim leaders have urged calm but demanded answers. They say protests should remain peaceful, but their voices must be heard.
“We do not want tension,” said a senior community figure. “We want respect, fairness and dialogue. If there was a problem, it should have been solved through talks.”
They have also demanded that the administration explain why the site was chosen and why religious rituals were allowed in a police project.
For many Muslims, the Sambhal incident fits into a larger pattern seen in recent years, where mosques and Muslim properties face swift action, often followed by political celebration.
“Every time, it is said to be legal,” said a teacher from the area. “But the pain is always felt by one community.”
Human rights groups say repeated incidents create a feeling of second-class citizenship. “When bulldozers target one group again and again, trust breaks,” said a Delhi-based activist.
As construction work continues, Muslims in Achoda Kamboh watch with heavy hearts. Some avoid passing near the site, while others stop and look silently.
“We pray that no more harm comes,” said a young resident. “But fear stays in the mind.”
There is also talk of legal action by community members, though many are hesitant. “Going to court takes money and courage,” said one man. “Not everyone has that.”
The Sambhal episode has once again brought to the surface the fragile state of communal trust in Uttar Pradesh. While the administration insists it has acted within the law, the emotional cost to the Muslim community is clear.
“Law should protect everyone equally,” said a retired school principal. “If people start feeling the law is against them, society suffers.”
As the police outpost rises on the cleared land, the larger question remains unanswered: can justice and security be built on ground that many feel was taken from them without compassion?
For now, the voices from Sambhal carry a simple plea. “Treat us as equal citizens,” said a local Muslim resident. “Do not make us feel like strangers in our own land.”
