Muslims claim no proper hearing, no verification. Just bulldozers and police. ‘What option do we have when they arrive in large numbers?’
NEW DELHI /SAMBHAL – In yet another deeply disturbing episode in Uttar Pradesh, a mosque in Sambhal district was demolished on Monday (9 June), leading to outrage and grief among Muslims. The administration claims that the demolition was carried out by the Muslim community itself after receiving a notice. However, locals reject this version, saying the action was sudden, unjust, and part of a growing trend of targeting Muslim places of worship under the pretext of encroachment.
The incident took place in the Hayatnagar area, where a small mosque built near the roadside was brought down in what the police described as “peaceful compliance” with a prior order. The administration, led by SDM Vandana Mishra, maintains that the mosque was an illegal structure on government land and that action had been notified well in advance.
But residents of the area tell a different story.
“We were shocked,” said Mohammad Imran, a member of the local mosque committee. “The notice claimed encroachment, but there was no proper hearing. No verification. Just bulldozers and police. What option do we have when they arrive in large numbers?”
According to Imran and other locals, the administration measured the land wrongly and used this as a pretext to issue the demolition notice. They claim that they were denied the opportunity to produce documents or contest the decision.
“Tell me, where should we go to pray now?” asked Abdul Sattar, a 67-year-old resident. “This is not just about bricks and walls. This is about our identity, our dignity.”
In a move that has left many puzzled, the police and officials are insisting that the mosque was taken down voluntarily by the community. “We issued a notice in May after inspection. The mosque committee took action on their own,” said SDM Vandana Mishra in a statement.
But members of the Muslim community dismiss this claim. “How can it be voluntary when we were surrounded by police and given no choice?” asked Asim Raza, a local shopkeeper. “They want to make it seem peaceful on paper, but it was nothing less than coercion.”
People in the locality also pointed out that parts of a temple standing nearby were also touched by the demolition, though only symbolically. “Yes, some part of the temple boundary was removed,” said a PWD officer present at the site. “The action was equal.”
However, Muslims question this narrative. “They removed one brick from the temple and the whole structure of the mosque. Is that equal?” asked Irfan Qureshi, a college student. “This is not about legality. This is about targeting Muslims.”
The demolition comes amid a broader pattern of bulldozer actions across Uttar Pradesh that seem to disproportionately affect Muslim properties. In recent months, dozens of madrasas and mosques have faced similar actions, sparking concern and legal battles.
“This is not the first mosque, and unfortunately, it won’t be the last,” said senior advocate Arif Khan from Lucknow. “We have filed petitions in court, but the government is taking matters into its own hands.”
Several Muslim leaders have accused the administration of violating court orders. “The Supreme Court has made it clear that religious structures cannot be demolished without following the proper legal route. What is happening in Uttar Pradesh is against every principle of justice,” said Maulana Mahmood Madani of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind.
Despite the charged atmosphere, the demolition in Sambhal did not result in violence. Police had deployed forces in advance, anticipating unrest. “Our priority was to maintain peace,” said a police officer on condition of anonymity.
Local people remained calm but were visibly distressed. “We are peaceful people. We will not fight, but that does not mean we agree,” said Nafeesa Begum, a schoolteacher who watched the mosque being brought down with tears in her eyes.
For many Muslims in the area, the incident has left a scar. “When you destroy a place of prayer, you destroy a part of the soul of the community,” said Shahbaz Alam, a youth volunteer. “We were not even allowed to remove the Holy Qur’an properly. They rushed us.”
An elderly man who had offered namaz in the mosque for 40 years said, “We never thought something like this would happen in front of our eyes, and we would not be able to stop it.”
People say they have grown used to such actions. “First it was houses, then shops, then madrasas, now mosques. What’s next?” asked Haji Aslam, a retired teacher. “We are becoming voiceless in our own country.”
No senior political leader from the ruling party has commented on the Sambhal demolition so far. Muslim leaders have condemned the action, but even they seem hesitant to take a strong stand.
“There is fear,” said a local activist who did not want to be named. “People are scared to speak out. One word, and your own home may be next.”
Legal experts have said that such actions must be reviewed by the judiciary. “The government is behaving like judge, jury, and executioner,” said lawyer Faheem Siddiqui. “A mosque cannot be demolished based on a notice alone. Due process means a court must decide.”
The community has demanded an inquiry and compensation. “We will go to court. We want justice. We are not asking for favours, only our rights,” said Syed Mehdi, an imam from a nearby mosque.
As the dust settles in Hayatnagar, the air remains heavy with sorrow and anger. Children walk past the rubble that once stood as their place of prayer. Elders recall the peaceful times when Hindu and Muslim residents lived in harmony.
“What message is being sent by these demolitions?” asked Abdul Rahman, a former councillor. “That Muslims have no place in this country?”
India is a democracy, and its Constitution promises equal rights to all. But for the Muslims of Sambhal, that promise feels hollow today.
“Let them say what they want,” said an elderly woman, holding her grandson’s hand near the debris. “Allah is watching. We may be weak, but we are not broken.”
