NEW DELHI — A mazar located near the Pantnagar highway in Uttarakhand’s Udham Singh Nagar district was demolished early on Saturday morning as part of an ongoing drive against alleged illegal structures on government land.
Officials carried out the demolition in Kichha using bulldozers in the presence of heavy police deployment. Teams from the district administration, Public Works Department (PWD), and railway authorities were also present at the site during the operation.
Authorities stated that the structure had been built on land belonging to PWD and the railways without permission.
The demolition is part of a wider campaign being carried out in different parts of Uttarakhand. In the past week alone, around six mazars have been removed by the administration.
Officials have said that these actions are being taken either because the structures were allegedly built on government land or in connection with road widening projects.
Some of the demolished structures were described by locals as visually appealing and long-standing, though authorities maintained that legality, not appearance, guided their decisions.
So far, there has been no official response or formal objection reported from any mazar management committee in the Pantnagar case.
However, the absence of public protest in some cases has not reduced the growing unease among sections of the Muslim community.
The Uttarakhand government has defended the demolitions, stating that the drive is aimed at removing illegal encroachments.
Officials have claimed that hundreds of such structures have been identified across the state. According to government figures, around 600 mazars have been demolished so far, and large areas of government land have been cleared.
The state administration has argued that strict action is necessary to protect public land and ensure planned development.
Members of the Muslim community have expressed concern over what they see as selective enforcement.
A local resident said, “If something is illegal, it should be handled through proper notice and legal process. People are worried that only certain structures are being targeted.”
Another community member said, “There is fear among people. Religious places are sensitive matters, and action should be taken carefully and fairly.”
Some community representatives have also raised concerns about earlier actions involving mosques and madrasas, calling them discriminatory.
At the same time, there are differing views within the Muslim community itself regarding mazars.
Some individuals believe that many such structures may not have historical or religious authenticity. Others argue that even in such cases, the method of removal should respect public sentiment and follow due process.
A local scholar said, “There are differences of opinion about mazars, but law enforcement must be equal and respectful. That is important for trust.”
Officials have said that the situation remains under control and no major law and order issues have been reported during the recent demolitions.
Police presence has been increased in sensitive areas as a precaution.
The administration has indicated that the drive will continue in the coming days, while affected communities are watching closely and calling for transparency and fairness in future actions.
