A nearly 200-year-old mosque in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi was demolished late Tuesday night during an “anti-encroachment” drive linked to the redevelopment of Kashi Railway Station. The action was carried out under heavy police security as authorities cleared land for a major transport infrastructure project.
The demolished structure, identified as the Ajgaib Shaheed Mosque, was located near Rajghat and reportedly stood on railway land marked for the expansion and modernisation of Kashi Railway Station. Along with the mosque, reports said a graveyard (kabristan), a tomb (mazar), and some nearby structures were also removed.
Officials stated that a Hanuman temple built on the same railway land was also removed as part of the drive.
Railways Cited Court Order, Repeated Notices
According to officials, railway authorities had issued several notices to the mosque management, asking them to vacate the land. The Railways claimed that the structure was located within the Kashi Railway Station premises and was identified as an encroachment during the planning of the Kashi Model Station Project.
Reports suggest that the mosque committee had challenged the notices in court. However, the court reportedly ruled in favour of the Railways, allowing the authorities to proceed with the demolition.
Officials said the action was taken only after the caretaker failed to vacate the site despite repeated warnings.
Demolition Completed Amid Tight Security
The demolition operation began shortly after midnight and was completed in a short time. Authorities deployed bulldozers, JCB machines and Pokland excavators to bring down the structure and remove debris.
A large number of police personnel and senior officers were present at the site to avoid any law-and-order situation. Roads leading to the area were sealed, and access was restricted during the operation.
Joint Commissioner of Police Shiv Hari Meena supervised the security arrangements. Several senior officers, including DCP Kashi Gaurav Banswal and ADCP Vaibhav Bangar, monitored the operation on the ground.
Officials said the demolition was carried out peacefully without any untoward incident.
Kashi Railway Station to Become Multi-Modal Transport Hub
The demolition is part of a larger redevelopment plan to transform Kashi Railway Station into an integrated transport hub with airport-like facilities. The project, estimated to cost between ₹330 crore and ₹400 crore, aims to connect rail, road, metro and water transport systems at one place.
Authorities believe the project will improve connectivity and reduce congestion in Varanasi, one of India’s busiest pilgrimage cities.
Meanwhile, local Muslim residents claimed that the mosque had existed for nearly two centuries and expressed concern over its demolition.
