No protests were reported as the administration turned the entire village of Sara, where the madrasa was located, into a cantonment
Team Clarion
GHAZIABAD — A madrasa in the Modinagar area of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh was demolished on Monday, sparking a wave of controversy acrossthe state. The administration claims the madrasa, Ul Usul, was illegally constructed on land that was part of a pond, belonging to the Municipal Corporation. This demolition is part of a wider state-led drive targeting what officials label as “illegal constructions” on public land, including mosques and madrasas.
The madrasa, which had been in operation for several years, served as an educational institution for children from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. However, its construction has been under legal scrutiny for some time. According to the district administration, the case was taken up in the courts, eventually reaching the High Court. After reviewing the matter, the court ruled that the madrasa was built illegally and ordered its removal. In addition, the High Court imposed a fine of ₹200,000 on the madrasa operators.
Pooja Gupta, the SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) of Modinagar, explained, “In the government records, the land is listed in the name of the government. The madrasa had no legal claim to this land. It was a completely illegal construction, and that’s why it was demolished.”
The demolition operation took place with heavy police presence, as the administration took precautionary measures by turning the entire village of Sara, where the madrasa was located, into a cantonment. Despite the scale of the operation, no protests were reported.
Gupta further confirmed, “There were no protests or opposition from any individuals associated with the madrasa.”
While the authorities claim to be following due legal process, citizens and rights groups have raised concerns over the perceived targeting of religious minorities, particularly Muslims. Several individuals have questioned the timing and motivations behind the demolition, pointing out that similar illegal constructions by other groups often go unnoticed.
Shalini Deshmukh, an activist from Ghaziabad, expressed her dissatisfaction, stating, “While no one supports illegal encroachment, there seems to be a disturbing pattern where religious minorities are disproportionately targeted. Why do we never see similar actions against illegal constructions of other religious institutions in the area? This selective targeting sends a harmful message about religious intolerance.”
Another local resident, Amar Singh, a teacher and human rights advocate, echoed these sentiments: “If the government is truly concerned about illegal constructions, they must be consistent in their approach. This is not about protecting public land but about sending a message to one community. Such actions only fuel division and mistrust between communities.”
Criticism of the demolition was not confined to citizens alone. Several groups have expressed concerns that this move could exacerbate existing communal tensions in the region, already heightened by previous incidents involving religious structures.
“We must focus on building communities, not destroying them. The government should look for ways to integrate these institutions into the larger societal framework, not treat them as a threat. We need more inclusive policies, not more divisive actions,” said Dr Raghav Mehta, a former university professor.
This event adds to a growing list of demolitions in the region, with several madrasas and mosques in Ghaziabad and across Uttar Pradesh being targeted for similar allegations of illegal construction. Hindu groups have voiced their support for the demolition of religious structures, including the madrasa in Modinagar, with some even staging protests.
