Construction halted after complaint to chief minister’s portal; Muslim residents say work was peaceful with all valid documents
NEW DELHI — A dispute over the construction of a small mosque in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh has again placed Muslims at the centre of a tense public row, after local Hindu villagers objected to the work and police moved quickly to stop construction.
The incident took place in Domnpur village, under the Shahganj police station area. Muslim residents say the structure was being built on private land meant for prayer, while members of the local Hindu community claimed the mosque was being constructed without official permission.
Following the objections, Hindu villagers submitted a complaint through the chief minister’s online portal. Soon after, a police team reached the site and ordered an immediate halt to the construction.
A senior police officer said the action was procedural. “We received a complaint regarding the construction. At present, the work has been stopped and documents linked to land ownership and permissions are being checked,” the officer said. “Further steps will be taken after verification.”
Muslim residents of the village expressed shock at the speed of the action, saying no objection had been raised earlier and that the construction was modest in nature. “This was meant only for namaz. It is not a big structure,” said a local Muslim elder. “We have papers related to the land. Still, the work was stopped within hours of the complaint.”
Another resident said the move had created fear among Muslim families. “Every time we try to build or repair a mosque, there is pressure. We live here peacefully. This action makes us feel targeted,” he said.
Local Hindu groups said they opposed the mosque on administrative grounds. A villager involved in the protest said, “We only want rules to be followed. If there is permission, let it be shown.”
Police also deployed extra forces in Domnpur village after the protest, citing the need to maintain order. Officers said the situation is calm and under watch.
Muslim community members said the deployment itself sent a troubling message. “There was no tension before the protest. Police presence increased only after objections were raised against us,” a resident said.
Civil rights observers say such incidents reflect a wider pattern in which Muslim religious activities come under scrutiny following organised complaints, even when no immediate law-and-order issue exists.
For now, construction has stopped, documents are under review, and villagers wait for the next decision, while Muslim residents say they hope the administration will act fairly and without bias.
