• By Kamakshi Bishnoi
  • Mon, 05 May 2025 12:37 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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The Uttar Pradesh government’s ongoing crackdown on encroachments continued on Sunday in several Nepal border districts, with illegal madrasas, mosques, and Idgahs built on government land facing demolition. Joint operations were carried out by the local administration and police across Shravasti, Pilibhit, Balrampur, Bahraich, Siddharthnagar, and Lakhimpur Kheri.

In Shravasti’s Jamunaha tehsil, authorities razed structures of Madrasa Rizvia Gausia Uloom Khalifatpur, Madrasa Darul Uloom Garib Nawaz Raza-e-Mustafa Imalia Karanpur, and Madrasa Islamia Arabia Talimul Quran Kunda. Similar action was taken in Bhinga tehsil against Madrasa Darul Uloom Ahle Sunnat Gaus Azam Banthihawa, and in Ikauna tehsil where Madrasa Islamia Chintayo Garib Nawaz Alinagar and an illegally constructed Idgah at Khanwapokhar were demolished.

In Siddharthnagar, encroachments were identified at 21 religious sites, including four mosques and 17 madrasas. The district administration has served notices to 19 of these structures, and demolition has been initiated at two locations.

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Balrampur has so far identified 39 encroachments involving madrasas and religious places. Of these, 24 have been sealed and seven illegal structures have been demolished. Notices have been issued for six more, while the Forest and Public Works Departments are expected to act on six other identified properties.

In Pilibhit, a mosque built on public land has been served a 15-day notice. Meanwhile, in Lakhimpur Kheri, District Magistrate Durga Shakti Nagpal and SP Sankalp Sharma confirmed the identification of four encroachments within 48 hours, including a shrine. The administration has acted on all four, sealing one Idgah and demolishing a mosque, a shrine, and another Idgah.

In Bahraich, 158 illegal encroachments within 10 kilometers of the Indo-Nepal border have been identified. Officials removed encroachments from an illegal Idgah and carried out actions at 24 other locations. So far, 10 madrasas have been sealed and three have been demolished.

Authorities have reiterated that further action will continue in accordance with legal procedures following the expiry of notices issued.