A mosque inside the Rajaji Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand’s Ramgarh Range has been sealed by forest officials and police following a Supreme Court order.
Forest Officer Ajay Dhyani said the mosque, built on 0.0008 hectares of forest land in the Asha Rodi Forest Beat, was sealed because the apex court had recently ordered a ban on all human activity inside the sanctuary. “We sealed the mosque in the presence of police and put up a warning board outside. Anyone violating the order will face legal action under forest laws,” Dhyani said.
He explained that the Forest Department had earlier objected to the mosque, after which some people approached the Supreme Court. But the government argued in court that the structure stood on protected forest land where human activity is not permitted. The court accepted the government’s argument and directed strict enforcement of its order.
