A mosque under construction in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district has become the centre of a dispute after right-wing Hindu groups demanded action against the structure, alleging that it was built without the required permissions.
The controversy has emerged in Baraut town’s Kamla Nagar area, where a mosque and madrasa are reportedly being constructed on a plot of land. Hindu organisations have approached district authorities, demanding that the structure be demolished.
The development has raised concerns among some local Muslim residents, who said the dispute has created fear and tension in the area.
Mosque Given Seven-Day Notice
According to local reports, the Baghpat Development Authority recently pasted a notice on the mosque, giving those involved seven days to submit the building map and relevant documents for scrutiny.
The notice followed an order by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) for an inquiry into the construction of the mosque and madrasa after protests by Hindu organisations.
However, the seven-day period has reportedly passed without any demolition or other action by the authorities. Following this, members of Hindu organisations again approached the administration and demanded immediate action.
The district administration has not officially declared the mosque or madrasa illegal.
Hindu Groups Demand Demolition
Members of Hindu organisations reached the district collectorate along with some local residents and met officials, demanding that the mosque be removed.
They claimed that the mosque and madrasa were constructed around four to five years ago and alleged that the construction took place despite the area having a predominantly Hindu population.
The groups have also made allegations about people visiting the mosque to offer prayers. They claimed that some Hindu women and girls had faced alleged misbehaviour from people visiting the site.
However, these allegations have not been independently established, and there is no reported official finding confirming them.
The groups had previously protested against the mosque around two months ago and demanded its removal.
Local Muslims Express Concern
The latest protest has caused concern among some members of the local Muslim community.
Some residents, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they were worried about the possibility of further action against the mosque.
They claimed that only a small number of people were openly demanding the demolition, while many others in the majority community were not in favour of escalating the dispute.
The situation has added to tensions in the area as the administration continues to examine the construction.
Authorities Yet To Declare Structure Illegal
Following the earlier protests, the SDM ordered an inquiry into the construction of the mosque and madrasa. The Baghpat Development Authority subsequently issued the seven-day notice seeking documents and the approved building plan.
However, there has been no official statement from the district administration confirming that the mosque or madrasa is illegal or ordering its demolition.
The latest dispute comes amid continuing concerns in Uttar Pradesh over administrative action involving mosques, madrasas and other minority religious structures. Courts have previously issued directions in various cases concerning due process and administrative action involving religious places.
For now, the situation in Baraut remains under scrutiny, with the authorities yet to announce their final decision on the mosque and madrasa in Kamla Nagar.
