Videos of the incident have gone viral on social media, creating an atmosphere of tension and debate in the area
NEW DELHI — The administration in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, sealed the Jama Masjid in the Thano area on Monday (June 1). The action was carried out by the Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA). Before this, Bhupesh Joshi, a leader of the Hindu organisation Kali Sena, had openly stated that a mosque cannot exist near a temple. He had described the mosque as an “illegal occupation” and warned that it should be vacated before the June 1 deadline.
The Muslim side claims that the court order only pertained to a part of the building (specifically an allegedly unauthorised room constructed in 2023), but the administration sealed the entire mosque. Muslims allege that they were not given sufficient opportunity to present their side or complete the legal process. Following the sealing, people associated with Hindu organisations performed a havan at the site. Tension has gripped the area after the incident.
The Hindu group raised slogans like “Masjid Swaha” (Mosque be consumed by fire). Videos of the event spread rapidly on social media. Locals say that communal politics and an atmosphere of hate are being deliberately spread even in small towns and villages in recent times. There are allegations that certain organisations are deliberately targeting the Muslim community to inflame the situation.
Muslim representatives have questioned the administrative action, saying that if there was any legal dispute, it should have been resolved through the courts. They argue that sealing the entire mosque and then celebrating the move has created fear and a sense of insecurity in the community. They have also accused the administration of acting under pressure from Hindutva groups and are considering further legal recourse.
On the other hand, Hindu organisations claim that the administration acted according to the law as part of a campaign against illegal occupation of government land and unauthorised constructions. They assert that no “illegal construction” will be tolerated near temples.
Mosques Under Target
It is noteworthy that disputes related to mosques are continuously increasing in Uttar Pradesh and several other states. After the Sanjauli mosque controversy in Shimla, an atmosphere of tension has been created around mosques and the Muslim community in many places. In particular, there are allegations that several mosques are being targeted in Uttarakhand.
Meanwhile, Hindu organisations claim that they are running a campaign against illegal constructions and encroachments. Reports indicate that the sealing followed complaints from groups like Bajrang Dal and Kali Sena.
The sealing action by MDDA came after the Uttarakhand High Court dismissed a plea by the Jama Masjid Society, Thano, in February regarding unauthorised construction. The court had observed that relief cannot be granted to a party in violation of the law, though it allowed for compounding applications.
Bhupesh Joshi, State President/Convener of Kali Sena, personally visited the mosque along with officials and served a notice to mosque representative Asim Ali, demanding the premises be vacated by June 1 and the signboard removed. He reportedly made the demand while police were present at the site.
The incident has led to protests by local Muslims, who claim the full sealing has restricted access to the entire mosque complex, including prayer areas, beyond the scope of the disputed portion (described as a 20×40 foot area in some reports).
This event is part of a broader pattern of complaints against alleged encroachments near temples in the region, with Hindu groups intensifying their campaign in recent months.
