Madrassa demolished in UP over alleged govt land encroachment

A madrassa allegedly built on government land was demolished by the district administration here early Tuesday morning, officials said.

The Arabia Ziaul Uloom Madrasa, located in Pipra Ramlal village under the Dumariyaganj tehsil area, was demolished using bulldozers amid tight security arrangements, they said.

According to district administration sources, the madrassa was constructed in 1968 and had been operational since then, with around 350 children receiving education in Urdu-medium there.

The madrassa management claimed that it was registered with the Waqf Board, though it did not have official departmental recognition.

A case relating to the madrassa land is also pending before the Consolidation Department, sources said.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Dumariyaganj) Vivekanand Mishra said a madrassa and a mosque had been illegally constructed on government land bearing gata (plot) numbers 1028 and 1029 in Pipra Ramlal village.

Following a hearing involving both parties before the Tehsildar (Judicial), Dumariyaganj, an order was issued on June 12, 2006, directing removal of the encroachment, he said.

The madrassa authorities later appealed against the demolition order, but their appeal was rejected on August 5, Mishra said.

The demolition was subsequently carried out on Tuesday, he said.

“All illegal structures on the two plots have been completely demolished,” Mishra said, adding that the situation at the site remained peaceful.

(With inputs from PTI)