The shrine, seen as a symbol of unity by both Hindus and Muslims, was removed by the administration over claims it stood on government land; tension rises in the area
SIDDHARTHNAGAR — The 150-year-old dargah of Fagu Shah Baba in Domariyaganj town of Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharthnagar District was demolished on Tuesday by the local administration. The step was taken after a complaint from former BJP MLA Raghvendra Pratap Singh, who claimed the dargah was built illegally on government grazing land.
District officials said the action was taken under legal process.
District Magistrate Raja Ganapathi R said, “The dargah was built on government land. Proper notice was given, and today it was removed with the help of the police force.”
The shrine had been a place of worship for both Hindus and Muslims for decades. Locals said it was a symbol of harmony, where people of both faiths offered prayers.
“It was called Fagu Shah Baba’s dargah,” said one resident. “Hindus and Muslims both came here. Every Thursday, a fair used to be held. Many people believed their wishes were fulfilled here.”
After the demolition, many residents expressed anger and sadness. “Some outsiders wanted to disturb peace,” said another villager. “They used their power to destroy this place of faith. This is wrong.”
Asgar Ali, caretaker of the dargah, said, “This place was more than 150 years old. The former BJP MLA complained, and now the dargah is gone. The government is targeting Muslims and playing with our faith.”
The action has caused tension in the area. A large number of police have been deployed to prevent any unrest.
Opposition leaders have strongly criticised the move. Former Speaker and current Samajwadi Party MLA from Itwa, Mata Prasad Pandey, said the shrine was a symbol of peace and unity.
“Fagu Baba’s dargah was centuries old,” Pandey said. “It represented the Hindu-Muslim brotherhood. The BJP government has shown a biased approach by destroying it. We will raise this issue in the assembly and even fight in the Supreme Court.”
Meanwhile, former MLA Singh, who made the complaint, thanked Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the action.
“This was actually the samadhi of Fagu Prasad,” Singh claimed. “Many wrong things were happening here in the name of a dargah. The public has now been freed from this deceit. Even some local leaders had misused their government funds at this site.”
The demolition has sparked a debate between legality and religious belief. While the administration says the land belongs to the government, many locals believe the dargah should have been protected as a symbol of shared faith.
