In Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district, members of the Muslim community in Chintamani Gadhiya village have voluntarily begun demolishing a mosque after local authorities threatened to use bulldozers to remove the structure. The mosque, known as Gadhiya Masjid, along with an adjacent Eidgah, was reportedly built on government land listed under Gata numbers 645 and 648.
Hindutva groups, including the Sanatani Sena, alleged the structure was illegal and lodged complaints with the administration.In response, the local Tehsil office issued an eviction notice under Section 67 of the Revenue Code. A final notice was posted on the mosque’s entrance in March this year, warning that demolition machinery would be deployed soon. Though the masjid committee appealed to both the ADM court and the Allahabad High Court, they received no relief. Despite the ADM earlier directing the Tehsildar to resolve the matter in six months, demolition proceedings were accelerated within three months.
Faced with mounting pressure and threats of forceful action, local Muslims chose to dismantle the mosque themselves using hammers and basic tools. Members of the mosque committee said the decision was made to prevent further conflict and protect communal harmony in the area. They stated they did not want the site to become a flashpoint for hatred.
The act has been widely discussed, with some describing it as a gesture of peace toward authorities and Hindutva groups who were protesting against the mosque.
