Local Muslim community expresses shock and concern as administration asserts strict stance
SITAPUR – In a controversial action in Mahmudabad tehsil in Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur District, the administration carried out a bulldozer operation on Monday at the Miya Sarai intersection, demolishing not only shops but also a mazar (mausoleum) that had stood there for decades. The move, ordered by District Magistrate Abhishek Anand, saw a significant deployment of police and PAC forces to maintain law and order.
According to officials, the land on which these structures stood is recorded as barren government site, encroached upon over the last 30 years. The administration has valued the property at approximately two crore rupees. ADM Nitish Kumar Singh stated, “This action was necessary to remove illegal encroachments that have persisted for decades. Government land cannot be occupied unlawfully, irrespective of the nature of the construction.”
The demolition has sparked widespread concern among local Muslims, many of whom viewed the mazar as a place of spiritual significance. A local resident, Mohammed Iqbal, expressed his distress, saying, “This mazar has been part of our community for generations. Its destruction is heartbreaking and feels like an attack on our faith.” Another shopkeeper, Tariq Ansari, added, “We had been living and working here for years. The notices came, but we were not given adequate time to adjust. Our livelihoods and faith have been hurt.”
The bulldozer operation was conducted under the leadership of the Tehsildar of Mahmudabad, with the administration claiming that prior attempts to remove the encroachments peacefully had failed. “We tried to convince people to vacate the land voluntarily,” said a local official. “When that did not happen, the administration had no option but to proceed with demolition to enforce the law.”
Security measures were strict. Police cordoned off the area to prevent protests or untoward incidents, deploying personnel from multiple stations along with PAC forces. The administration has made it clear that it will not tolerate illegal construction on government land anywhere in Sitapur district.
However, the action has raised questions about the government’s approach to religious sites. Many locals argue that spiritual places, even if built without formal permission decades ago, require sensitive handling. A community elder, Maulana Shahid, said, “The administration could have engaged with our community before taking such drastic steps. Demolishing a mazar that has historical and religious importance hurts communal harmony.”
As debates continue, the incident highlights the tension between enforcing land laws and respecting the sentiments of religious communities. The administration maintains that its actions are strictly legal and aimed at protecting government property. Nevertheless, for local Muslims in Sitapur, the bulldozer operation represents a painful loss of both heritage and livelihood.
