30-year-old mosque bulldozed in Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh
New Delhi: A 30-year-old mosque known as Chhoti Masjid in Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh was demolished by the local administration that has triggered outrage among Muslims.
According to Kashmir Media Service, officials claimed the mosque was constructed on public park land, but residents called the demolition a deliberate act of humiliation.
The mosque, located near Shri Kalki Dham on the Sedangli–Manota Road, was razed in the presence of heavy police deployment.
Local residents and community leaders strongly condemned the demolition, questioning why old religious structures were being singled out.
Mohammad Jameel, one of the community members associated with the mosque, told reporters, “This mosque was not harming anyone. People were offering prayers here for decades. If it was built on park land, why did the administration stay silent for 30 years?”
He added, “We were not even given a fair chance to appeal. Everything was done hastily, as if the decision had already been made.”
A local elder, Hafiz Abdul Sattar, expressed his grief, saying, “The mosque was part of our daily life. It was built with the contribution of villagers and stood as a symbol of our faith. Watching it being torn down by bulldozers was heartbreaking.”
Muslim residents said such demolitions reflect a pattern of selective action under the guise of anti-encroachment drives.
Shafiq Ahmed, a resident of Sambhal town, said, “Whenever it comes to a mosque or Muslim property, bulldozers are sent immediately. But when illegal temples or other structures come up, the administration looks the other way.”
