NEW DELHI/HARDOI — Tensions have escalated in the Mallawan area of Hardoi district after local authorities demolished a decades-old Muslim cemetery, citing claims that the land belongs to a Hindu religious site. The action has sparked widespread concern among the Muslim community in Uttar Pradesh, particularly as it follows earlier moves against mosques, madrasas, and Eidgahs. Many see the demolition as part of a broader pattern of targeting under the Yogi Adityanath-led government.
The cemetery, located in Nevada Paras village, had reportedly been in use for over 15 years. Members of the local Muslim community claim they have been burying their dead at the site with the verbal approval of the village head (Pradhan), who they say permitted its use as a burial ground years ago.
However, acting on a recent complaint from members of the Hindu community, local authorities responded swiftly. The complainants alleged that the Muslim community had encroached on land belonging to the “Laalta Baba Dev Sthan,” a Hindu place of worship. Based on these claims, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Poonam Bhaskar ordered the removal of the cemetery’s signboard and boundary pillars.
The operation was carried out under tight security. Naib Tehsildar Yashwant Singh, revenue officials Kanungo Ompal Singh, Lekhpal Ramakant and Police Station Officer Balendra Mishra arrived with a police force. They measured the land and ordered the immediate removal of the board and fencing.
Officials described the site as “barren land belonging to the village society” and claimed that there was no official record of it being allotted for cemetery purposes.
But Muslims in the area have strongly denied these claims. Speaking to reporters, one local resident, Abdul Wahid, said, “We have been burying our dead here for years. The Pradhan gave us this land and we have used it peacefully without dispute. Now suddenly we are told it is not ours.”
Another villager, Shakeel Ahmed, expressed his anger said, “It is very clear. First our mosques were targeted, then madrasas, then our Idgahs, and now even the graveyards are being snatched. Where do you want us to go? Even our dead are not being spared.”
A local elder, Mohammad Ismail, added, “This is not just about land. This is about dignity. Our graves were here. This place was sacred for us. Now bulldozers and police came as if we are criminals.”
Community leaders and social activists have described the move as part of a wider pattern of harassment of Muslims in the state.
One local rights activist, Arif Khan, told our correspondent, “If there was any dispute, it should have been resolved with dialogue and legal process. Suddenly removing a cemetery that has existed for more than a decade shows clear bias.”
When asked about the claims of Muslim residents, an officer who participated in the operation said, “There is no official record of land being given to the Muslim community for a cemetery. The land was being wrongly used, and we have restored it.”
The claim about the land being part of “Laalta Baba Dev Sthan” remains controversial. There is little documented evidence to support it, and Muslims in the area insist no such structure ever existed at the site.
“This is a fabricated story to target us,” said Shahnawaz Ali, a local school teacher.
“They have created this ‘Dev Sthan’ angle now, just to take back the land. There was never a temple here.”
Meanwhile, several opposition leaders and Muslim groups have condemned the action. Speaking in Lucknow, a representative of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board said, “Graveyards are not just pieces of land. They carry religious and emotional importance. This kind of selective action shows the communal mindset of the administration.”
Social media has also seen widespread discussion and criticism of the demolition, with many users calling out what they see as a targeted campaign against Muslims in the state.
With no clear resolution in sight, local Muslims in Nevada Paras are now left grieving not just the loss of burial space, but the humiliation of seeing the resting places of their loved ones destroyed.
“Even the dead have no peace in Uttar Pradesh now,” said 70-year-old Rafiquddin.
“What kind of justice is this? They removed the board, but our memories and prayers remain here. They cannot erase that.”
