A portion of the 185-year-old Noori Masjid in Lalauli town was demolished on Tuesday, with authorities citing its illegal construction and obstruction of the Banda-Bahraich Highway widening project. The demolition occurred under tight security, with police and Rapid Action Force personnel deployed in the area.
The Public Works Department (PWD) had previously issued a notice for the mosque’s partial demolition, arguing that part of the structure was illegally built and was blocking the road expansion. However, the mosque’s management committee contested the claim, stating that the Noori Masjid was built in 1839, long before the highway was constructed in 1956. The committee has filed a petition in the Allahabad High Court, which is scheduled to hear the case on December 12.
“About 20 meters of the mosque were demolished on Tuesday, and the debris is being cleared,” said Inspector Vrindavan Rai of Lalauli police station. To ensure public safety, shops within a 200-meter radius were closed, and a 300-meter area around the mosque was sealed off.
Mohammad Moin Khan, the mutawalli (chief) of the Noori Masjid Management Committee, expressed dissatisfaction with the demolition, saying the mosque predates the highway and questioning the legality of the PWD’s removal order. He added that a petition had been filed in court to prevent the demolition from going ahead.
