Another masjid, madrasa demolished in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh
Sambhal: Tension erupted in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district after government bulldozers demolished a mosque and madrasa in Salimpur Salar (Hajipur village), around 12 km from Sambhal town.
According ot Kashmir Media Service, locals said the move has intensified fear among Muslims, who see repeated targeting of their religious sites.
Mosque caretaker Haji Shamim said the land was granted nearly 40 years ago for religious and educational purposes. He said authorities forced the community to break parts of the building before bulldozers completed demolition.
District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya and Tehsildar Dhirendra Singh said the land would be given to 20 Hindu families and a fine of INR 78.8 lakh imposed on the mosque committee. Officials maintain notices were served weeks prior.
The demolition is part of a broader pattern in Sambhal, where over a dozen Islamic sites have been removed in the past 14 months, including shops and homes near the Shahi Jama Masjid. Community members question why legal cases linked to religious sites, still pending in court, have not prevented sudden demolitions.
Local clerics and residents say bulldozers appear to target only Muslim places, creating fear and resentment. They urged authorities to ensure fairness and respect for all faith sites.
