Ghalib Shams | Clarion India
The sealing of the historic Anwarul Uloom Madrassa in Uttar Pradesh’s Shravasti district and its subsequent reopening by court order has once again drawn attention towards the growing crackdown on minority educational institutions in the state.
On 27 April 2024, officials from the Department of Minority Welfare sealed the madrassa, claiming it was unregistered. However, the madrasa administration maintained that it had been registered with the Minority Department since 1974.
When the case reached the Allahabad High Court, the court declared the sealing unlawful, criticised the local administration, and ordered the immediate reopening of the madrassa.
Yet, despite the court’s clear ruling, the stance of the state machinery raises pressing questions like is this campaign genuinely about removing illegal encroachments, or does it reflect a deeper, more targeted strategy against minority institutions?
In Bhartha Roshangadh, another village in Shravasti district, the local administration demolished part of the boundary wall of a historic mosque. The madrasa operating within the mosque premises was also shut down.
Ashfaq Ahmed, who is head of the mosque committee said that this mosque is over 100 years old and recently officials from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s office and the Revenue Department conducted a survey and claimed that part of the mosque’s boundary wall falls on government land.
Ahmed said, “The administration ordered the demolition, and to avoid conflict, we ourselves took down the wall. A madrasa has been running in the mosque compound for years, but it has now been forced to shut. The madrasa is registered with the Registrar of Firms, Societies and Chit Funds Office in Ayodhya. We applied for affiliation with the UP Madrasa Board two years ago, but have still not received any response.”
Ahmed further said, “If the government is running a campaign against unrecognised madrasas, then it must first explain why our application for affiliation has been pending for two years.”
This incident is a fresh example of the increasing pressure and sense of insecurity faced by the Muslim community in the border districts.
In BJP-ruled states, the scope of demolition actions against madrasas, mosques, shrines, and Eidgahs continues to expand. In recent years, such incidents have increased notably in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh.
The government presents these actions as part of a “zero-tolerance policy” against so-called “land jihad” and “unregulated religious expansion.” However, critics argue that this campaign is, in fact, an attack on minority identity and religious freedom.
Situation in Uttar Pradesh:
According to a report published in Hindustan Times, there are 25,000 madrasas (Islamic schools) in Uttar Pradesh. Out of these, 16,513 are registered with the Madrasa Board, while 8,449 are unrecognised. Around 2.8 million students are studying in these madrasas across the state.
In 2022, a state-wide madrasa survey was carried out, but its findings have not led to any effective action so far.
From 25 April 2025, a new wave of operations began in districts along the India-Nepal border. As part of this, over 350 Muslim religious sites have been identified—many of which have already been demolished or sealed.
In the border districts — Siddharthnagar, Balrampur, Bahraich, Maharajganj, Shravasti and Lakhimpur Kheri — joint teams consisting of police, revenue, and municipal officers are inspecting madrasas. The state government claims these actions are being taken due to illegal constructions and security concerns, especially in areas close to the Nepal border.
Another report by Times of India states that in the districts of Shravasti, Siddharthnagar, Balrampur, Pilibhit, Bahraich, and Lakhimpur Kheri, dozens of religious structures have either been demolished, sealed, or issued notices to vacate.
In Shravasti district, the administration demolished several madrasas including Madrasa Razvia Ghausia-ul-Uloom (Khilafatpur), Madrasa Darul Uloom Gareeb Nawaz Raza Mustafa (Amliya Karanpur), and Madrasa Islamia Arabia Taleem-ul-Qur’an (Kunda).
Likewise, in Bhanga tehsil, Madrasa Darul Uloom Ahl-e-Sunnat Ghaus-e-Azam (Banthuwa), Madrasa Islamia Chantiya Gareeb Nawaz (Ali Nagar, Akona tehsil), and even the Eidgah at Khenwa Pokhar were bulldozed.
Balrampur: 39 Sites Identified, 24 Sealed
In Balrampur, 39 religious sites have so far been declared illegal. These include madrasas, shrines, and Eidgahs. Out of these, 24 sites have been sealed, while 19 cases of encroachment have been separately identified. Seven sites have been removed, and notices have been issued for six others. Actions by the forest and public works departments are being prepared for the remaining six sites.
Balrampur: 39 Religious Sites Identified, 24 Sealed
In Balrampur, 39 religious sites have been declared unauthorised so far. These include madrasas, shrines, and Eidgahs. Of these, 24 sites have been sealed, while 19 cases of encroachment have been separately identified. Seven sites have been removed, and notices have been issued for six others. The forest and public works departments are preparing to take action on the remaining six sites.
Pilibhit:
An unauthorised mosque built on government land was identified in Pilibhit and was demolished after fifteen days.
Lakhimpur Kheri: Mosques and Shrines Bulldozed
In Lakhimpur Kheri, District Magistrate Durga Shakti Nagpal and SP Sankalp Sharma said that three religious encroachments were identified in the last two days, including one shrine. So far, the administration has removed encroachments from one mosque, one shrine, and two Eidgahs, and sealed one Eidgah.
Bahraich: 158 Encroachments Removed
In Bahraich, on the same day, an unauthorised Eidgah was demolished, while 10 madrasas were sealed and three madrasas were demolished.
In Maharajganj district, notices have been issued against 34 madrasas and religious buildings for illegal occupation of government land. Two madrasas have been sealed, and two religious buildings have been demolished.
Part of a Statewide Campaign
Officials say these actions are part of a statewide campaign aimed at removing religious structures and encroachments on government land near the international border.
The administration has been instructed to take strict and immediate action against all illegal encroachments, regardless of which community they belong to.
According to the state government, these operations target illegal occupation of government land and unregulated religious buildings. The administration says action will be taken against madrasas that do not have proper documents or are operating without registration.
However, critics argue why no non-Muslim religious sites appear on the list and does this campaign really apply the law equally, or is it a deliberate pressure on a particular community?
Concerns of Muslims:
The minority community says that most madrasas are registered and have complete paperwork, yet action is still being taken against them.
Muslims accuse the authorities of being biased, saying that only Muslim religious sites are being targeted for demolition. In contrast, religious buildings of the majority community are being left untouched.
According to a news report by ClarionIndia.net dated 29 May 2025:
A local person, who wished to remain anonymous, said:
“We felt as if we were being punished for practising our religion. The mosque was not just a building, it was our identity.”
Online English news agencies report that the state government has demolished or sealed over 225 madrasas, 30 mosques, 25 shrines, and 6 Eidgahs so far.
The administration says these actions are being taken to restore law and order and remove illegal occupations in border areas. However, local people, social workers, and human rights groups say these measures are sectarian and one-sided.
Social workers ask, if the campaign is against illegal encroachments, then why are religious institutions of other communities left safe?
Avinash Mishra wrote in India Today: “The timing of this demolition campaign is especially notable. It began when tensions between India and Pakistan were high, and news of Indian operations against terrorist bases was in the headlines.”
State officials say this is purely about enforcing land and regulatory laws, but the focus on Islamic religious sites raises questions.
Manoj Kaka, spokesperson for the Samajwadi Party, has also accused the government of anti-minority policies.
He said, “This is the same government that the Supreme Court said was bulldozing the constitution, not just illegal buildings. After a lawyer’s house was demolished in Prayagraj, the Supreme Court ordered the government to pay compensation. The government does not touch illegal constructions of big criminals. It is BJP’s policy to target one specific community.”
Om Prakash Rajbhar, the Minority Welfare Minister of UP, rejected these allegations and said:
“People living illegally near the Nepal border were making unauthorised constructions in the name of religion. Illegal activities were going on under the cover of education. That is why action was taken.”
Rajbhar denied any ideological motive behind the operation and said the opposition is raising questions just to win Muslim votes.
Noor Ali, the village head (Gram Pradhan) of Shahpur Pura Sheodin village, said that the authorities have sealed their recognised madrasa.
“They asked us for land ownership documents. The tehsildar (local officer) said the land belongs to the government, not the madrasa. More than 100 poor students were receiving free education, food, and accommodation here. Now everyone has gone home, and there is no sign of the madrasa reopening or classes starting again.”
Despite the closure of madrasas and demolition of religious buildings, there is no communal tension in the border areas. However, the Muslim community is worried and anxious because their religious institutions are continuously being targeted.
There has been a demand from the government to make proper arrangements for the education of Muslim children who have been left without schools after the madrassas were closed.
“We want modern education and facilities to be provided in madrassas,” said Abdul Qayyum, who runs a madrassa in Hakimpurva village.
The same situation is happening in Bahraich district. The authorities have sealed 10 unrecognised madrassas and demolished 3 of them.
Two large madrassas in the border area of Lababganj town have also been sealed.
Muhammad Saleem Qasmi, the head of the madrassa committee, said,
“About 300 children were studying in these madrassas, many of whom lived in hostels. Both madrassas are registered with the Registrar Firm Society and the chit fund office, but they are not affiliated with the UP Madrassa Board.”
Altaf Hussain, the president of Madarsa Ahl-e-Sunnat Noor-ul-Islam in Sohretgarh, said:
“We welcome the reform campaign for madrasas, but it should not be one-sided. Our madrasa has 500 students and we also receive government support. However, there are Sanskrit schools in the district with no students at all, yet they are left untouched.”
He added, “The government says modern education should be taught in madrasas. We have hired science teachers, but for the past eight years, the government has stopped paying their salaries. Organisations hold protests, but the government does not respond.”
Science teacher Akhtar Kamal said, “We have filed a case in the Allahabad High Court for our salaries and permanent appointments.”
Former chairman of the UP Madrasa Board, Iftikhar Ahmed Javed, said:
“There is no written order saying that requests for madrasa affiliation should be rejected, but officials in the Minority Welfare Department keep files pending. During my three years in office, eight meetings were held, and each time approvals were given, but nothing was implemented.”
After the Pulwama attack, a campaign was launched in the UP-Nepal border areas. Research shows that most madrasas were dealt with hastily. The madrasa administrators say that the notices they received did not clearly explain the legal reasons, nor were they given a chance to arrange alternative education for the students or to explain their legal position. In some places, the madrasas were demolished immediately after receiving the notices.
Detailed reporting over two months by India Times, India Today, Clarion.net, and other reliable sources confirms this trend. According to a report by Clarion India.net on 4 July 2025, “The Uttar Pradesh government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has so far demolished more than 500 madrasas, dozens of mosques, and shrines.”
Similar actions are ongoing in Uttarakhand, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh. If the full record of the past four years is examined, the list becomes even longer and more concerning.
All these incidents have deepened the feeling among Muslims that their religious identity, places of worship, and educational institutions are being systematically targeted.
The constitutional religious freedom, educational autonomy, and equal rights of minorities are currently facing serious challenges.
The way affiliation requests of madrasas have been delayed for years, the salaries for science teachers have been stopped, and even recognised institutions are facing retaliatory actions — this is not just a matter of land and property. It is becoming a sign of a deep and systematic campaign to gradually marginalise the minority community.
