Residents of Amoni village question the sudden action of the administration as the work had been going on for two and a half years
NEW DELHI — Uttar Pradesh once again witnessed tension over a mosque construction dispute after the district administration in Deoria halted the construction of a mosque that had reportedly been under construction for nearly two and a half years with support from villagers belonging to different communities.
The incident took place in Amoni village under the Rudrapur police station area, where residents said the mosque was being built peacefully through local donations and cooperation from both Muslims and Hindus. However, after objections and complaints were raised by some Hindu organisations, the administration stepped in and stopped the ongoing construction work.
The action has left many villagers upset and confused. Residents said the construction had continued openly for a long period and questioned why the administration acted only now when most of the structure had already been completed.
According to locals, only the roof work of the mosque was pending when officials arrived at the site and ordered the work to stop.
People associated with the construction said the mosque was being built gradually with financial help from local villagers. They claimed there had never been any dispute in the village during the construction period and that members of different communities had maintained peace and mutual understanding.
Local villagers said the atmosphere in the village changed after Hindu organisations alleged that the mosque was being constructed without official permission and without completing legal formalities.
After the complaint reached officials, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Rudrapur, along with police personnel, visited the village and inspected the site. Officials later ordered an immediate halt to the construction.
Residents said construction materials, including beams and other items, were also removed from the site after the administration’s action.
Speaking about the matter, a man identified as Shahadat said the villagers had been building the mosque through cooperation.
“We were constructing the mosque with support from local people. We had not taken formal permission. Now the administration has stopped the work. We will apply for permission and continue once approval is given,” he said.
Villagers said the mosque had become a symbol of local unity because people from both communities had contributed towards its construction.
Some residents expressed disappointment that a religious structure being built peacefully for years suddenly became the subject of controversy.
A local villager said, “If there was any legal problem, why did the administration remain silent for two and a half years? The work was happening openly in front of everyone.”
Another resident said the village had never witnessed tension over the mosque before outside groups became involved.
“People here lived peacefully. Hindus and Muslims both helped in the construction. Suddenly, the matter has become controversial and everyone is worried,” the villager said.
The incident has also raised wider questions about administrative functioning and the handling of religious issues in parts of Uttar Pradesh. Villagers said authorities should have acted earlier if permissions were required instead of waiting until the structure was nearly complete.
Several residents alleged that pressure from Hindu organisations influenced the administration’s decision.
However, no official statement has yet been released by district authorities explaining the legal status of the mosque construction or the exact grounds on which the work was stopped.
The matter has now become a major topic of discussion in the area, with villagers waiting to see whether permission for the mosque will eventually be granted.
Residents said they hope the issue will be resolved peacefully and that harmony between communities in the village will not be damaged.
The controversy comes at a time when disputes over mosques and religious structures have increasingly surfaced in different parts of the country, especially in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Muslim groups and civil rights activists have often accused authorities of acting selectively in matters related to Muslim religious institutions, while Hindu organisations have continued demanding stricter scrutiny of mosque constructions and religious properties.
For now, uncertainty remains in Amoni village, where many residents say a project built with local cooperation has suddenly been pushed into controversy.
