Sitapur: A mosque allegedly built on government land 12 years ago in Sitapur district was demolished early Monday, March 30, after authorities said prior notices went unheeded.
Additional District Magistrate Nitish Kumar, accompanied by senior officials and three bulldozers, reached the Leharpur area site around 3 am to carry out the demolition amid tight security.
According to the administration, the mosque in Naigaon Behati village had been constructed illegally on land designated as a pond. The action followed a tehsil court order issued after a complaint by the Gram Sabha.
Around 500 police personnel, including senior officers, were deployed to maintain law and order during the operation.
The dispute over the structure had been ongoing for years, with the Gram Sabha alleging that the mosque stood on land earmarked for both a pond and a cemetery. A formal case was filed on December 18, 2025.
On January 6, 2026, the court declared the construction illegal and ordered eviction, issuing a notice to the concerned party to vacate the premises and remove essential items within a stipulated period. When the deadline passed without compliance, the district administration proceeded with the demolition. Authorities also cited a notice under Section 67 of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, which had gone unheeded, prompting the action.
Maulana Abdul Rahman, associated with the mosque, declined to comment, calling the matter political.
Justifying the pre-dawn timing, ADM Nitish Kumar said the site is along a main road, and early action was chosen to avoid traffic disruption. “The demolition was carried out in accordance with the law. Removing encroachments from government land remains a priority,” he added.
“The situation in the area is currently under control, and the administration is continuously monitoring it,” Kumar confirmed.
With PTI inputs