Municipal officials demolish the Azanpeer Mosque and nearby madrasa; fear and grief grip Muslim residents of Matgaria Geeta Mandir area
GUWAHATI — In a shocking and heart-wrenching development, the Azanpeer Mosque and an adjacent madrasa in the Matgaria Geeta Mandir area of Guwahati in Assam were bulldozed on Friday by municipal officials, leaving the local Muslim community in grief and anger. The demolition has sparked widespread condemnation, highlighting concerns over religious discrimination and the ongoing targeting of Muslim religious institutions in BJP-ruled Assam.
The administration carried out the demolition claiming that the mosque was situated in a landslide-prone area and was at risk of collapsing. However, no allegations of encroachment on government land were levelled. Residents described the action as unjust and discriminatory, pointing out that nearby homes of Hindus and other communities were left untouched.
“The bulldozers came and destroyed our mosque and madrasa in a matter of hours. Women and men cried as if their own homes were being demolished. This is completely wrong,” said Ashraf Ali, a local resident.
The mosque served as the only place of worship in the area, and the madrasa provided religious education to local children. With the sudden demolition, residents are now deeply concerned about where they will pray and how children will continue their religious studies. Many locals were seen mourning the destruction, holding prayers in the open, and questioning the fairness of the authorities’ actions.
“They gave us only 12-hour notice before demolishing the mosque. Even if it was in a landslide zone, we should have been allowed to relocate safely,” said Ilyas Ahmed, a local lawyer. “This action is completely illegal and unjustified.”
Eyewitnesses said the mosque and madrasa had existed for years without incident. They stressed that many Muslim and Hindu homes are located nearby in the same supposedly ‘landslide-prone’ area, yet no bulldozers were used there, suggesting selective targeting of Muslim institutions.
“We all condemn this action. Destroying a mosque and a madrasa like this is an attack on our faith and our community,” said Ashraf Ali.
This is not an isolated case. In recent years, mosques, madrasas, and shrines in Assam have been demolished under various pretexts. The Assam government has previously alleged that certain madrasas were involved in anti-national activities or were built on government land without proper documentation.
“The Supreme Court has reprimanded Assam for demolishing mosques, madrasas, and homes of accused Muslims. In some cases, it ordered reconstruction or compensation, yet the state continues to defy these orders,” said Prof Mohsin Rahman, a legal expert on minority rights.
Residents feel that the demolition reflects a broader hostility towards the Muslim community in Assam, intensifying fears over religious discrimination. Many have called on both the state government and national authorities to take urgent action and ensure justice for the affected families.
“The mosque was a place of peace, education, and prayer. Bulldozing it without any real justification is cruel and unacceptable,” said Rashida Begum, a local woman.
Muslim leaders in Guwahati have condemned the municipal corporation’s actions as illegal and discriminatory. They demand an immediate investigation into the demolition, as well as compensation or reconstruction of the destroyed mosque and madrasa.
“We urge the government to respect the religious rights of minorities. The destruction of places of worship cannot be justified on flimsy grounds,” said Syed Qasim Rasool, a Guwahati-based community leader.
Human rights groups have also expressed alarm, pointing out that such actions may undermine communal harmony in the region. “This demolition is part of a disturbing trend where Muslim institutions are singled out under pretexts that are not applied to others,” said Dr Shabana Khan, a civil rights activist. “It sends a message of fear to the community.”
The local community continues to grieve the loss of the Azanpeer Mosque and madrasa. Many families are now uncertain about how to continue their religious practices and education. Advocates have called for immediate government intervention, stressing that respect for religious freedom is a cornerstone of India’s constitutional framework.
“We just want our mosque and madrasa back. We want to pray and teach our children without fear. Is that too much to ask?” asked Ashraf Ali, speaking on behalf of the local Muslim community.
