Mazar at Doon School razed. Hindu outfit welcomes.

Purported videos of a group of four to five men as believed from a Hindutva outfit demolishing the shrine using pickaxes and hammers have gone viral on social media.

Sakshi Jain | HENB | Dehradun | Nov 17, 2024:: A controversy has erupted in Dehradun after a ‘mazar’ (shrine) within the prestigious Doon School was demolished following protests by right-wing Hindu groups. The Doon School, renowned as the most esteemed British-era private boarding school for boys, boasts an impressive alumni list, including former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, his son Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Karan Singh, Naveen Patnaik, and celebrated authors Amitav Ghosh and Vikram Seth.

This incident raises concerns about the increasing tensions between religious groups and the politicization of Waqf lands and Mazar Jihad inter alia Land Jihad in the state.  The demolition of the shrine inside the walls of Doon School sparked debates about the illegal existence of such false Mazars or Islamic tombs in the name of free religious practice of religious freedom. 

The controversial  incident has unfolded at Dehradun’s prestigious Doon School, where a ‘mazar’ (shrine) was demolished by a group of four to five men using pickaxes and hammers. Videos of the demolition have gone viral on social media, sparking widespread controversy .

According to Dehradun District Magistrate Savin Bansal, the demolition was not authorized by the authorities. Bansal stated that a team, including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), was sent to verify the facts surrounding the mazar and ensure law and order. The District Magistrate has also sought a report on the incident.

It’s been reported that Hindu outfit leader Swami Darshan Bharti had met with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and local authorities, requesting the demolition of the mazar within the school’s boundaries.

“Whoever may have done it, I welcome the demolition. Why should there be a mazar within a school? That too inside the walls of a prestigious school like The Doon School… It shows the extent of land jihad in the state,” Bharti, who is the founder of Uttarakhand Raksha Abhiyan, told PTI.

According to sources, the old construction of the mazar had been recently renovated by the school authorities despite the objections raised from many quarters.

The Uttarakhand Waqf Board has claimed ownership of a significant portion of land adjacent to The Doon School, including 57 acres in the area where the mazar stood. According to their records, this land belonged to them, but its current status is unclear. This development comes amidst a crackdown on illegal encroachments on government land by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, which has resulted in the removal of encroachments on 5,000 acres of land so far.

The Waqf Board’s claim is rooted in their historical ownership of the land, with the Mussalman Waqf Act of 1923 establishing the framework for waqf administration in India. Waqf properties are dedicated for religious, pious, or charitable purposes, and the Uttarakhand Waqf Board is responsible for managing these properties within the state.

Darshan Bharti, founder of Uttarakhand Raksha Abhiyan, has been vocal about his concerns regarding illegal Waqf encroachment of lands in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, which he believes is a form of “Land Jihad.” He’s particularly worried that the Waqf Board may claim ownership of the entire Doon School property, given its historical claims to 57 acres of land in the area. Bharti welcomed the recent demolition of the mazar within the school premises, calling it a “fake” structure.