Yogi in Action: Illegal Mosques, Madrasa Razed in UP’s Sambhal; Late-Night Drive Plugs Power Theft.

In UP Crackdown, Two Mosques and One Madrasa built illegally on govt land razed in Sambhal, Power Theft Plugged.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | Sambhal (Uttar Pradesh) | Jan 5, 2025::  Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district witnessed an intensified administrative crackdown combining a late-night operation against electricity theft with large-scale action against illegal encroachments on government land. Senior district and police officials led the coordinated drive, which resulted in the demolition of two illegally constructed mosques and one madrasa, along with the disconnection of unauthorized power connections in urban pockets of the district. UP CM Yogi Adityanath, popularly known as “Bulldozer Baba,” seen in action again against Land Jihad (Islamic occupation of Non-Muslim Lands).

Power Theft Drive in Deepa Sarai

The anti-power theft operation was carried out late at night in the Deepa Sarai area, led directly by District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya and Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Bishnoi. A heavy police force accompanied electricity department teams to maintain law and order during the inspections.

Officials found several houses drawing electricity illegally. Upon confirmation, power connections were immediately disconnected on the spot in the presence of the DM and SP. Teams also recovered immersion rods and heaters from the premises, which officials said were being used through unauthorized connections.

The operation was conducted around 200 metres from the residence of Sambhal MP Ziaur Rehman Barq. Officials recalled that similar late-night inspections last year had uncovered illegal power distribution hubs operating from mosques and madrasas, from where electricity was being supplied to nearby houses.

Read also: Sambhal’s  ‘Mini power station’ busted in massive electricity theft drive

Demolition of Illegal Religious Structures

Separately, the district administration removed two mosques and a madrasa constructed illegally on government land in the Asmoli area of Sambhal. The action was taken amid tight security arrangements, with senior officials present and drone surveillance deployed to monitor the situation.

On the intervening night of January 3 and 4, members of the local Muslim community began dismantling one of the illegal structures themselves, apparently to avoid losses from impending bulldozer action.

Sambhal tehsildar Dhirendra Pratap said that although the demolition drive was scheduled to begin at 10 am, villagers and mosque committee members arranged a private bulldozer and razed the structure before the administration arrived.

In Hajipur village under Asmoli police station limits, locals worked through the night using hammers and chisels to demolish a mosque built on 1,339 square metres (approximately one-and-a-half bighas) of government land. When the administrative team reached the site in the morning, the structure had already been reduced to rubble. The administration later cleared the debris.

Around 500 metres away, a madrasa built on 1,500 square metres of government land was demolished by the administration using three bulldozers. Prior to the action, public announcements were made through munadi (beating of drums). The DM, SP, and a large police contingent remained present throughout the operation.

Second Mosque Demolished After Court Clearance

Another mosque, located in Raya Buzurg village—about 11 kilometres from Hajipur and under the same Asmoli police station jurisdiction—was also demolished. Officials said the structure had been built illegally on around 1,500 square metres of government land.

According to the administration, the mosque committee had been served a notice on October 2. The committee later approached the high court, but the petition was dismissed, following which demolition proceedings were carried out.

The district magistrate stated that land encroached in the name of the madrasa was being used for commercial purposes rather than education. “Shops had been constructed and rent was being collected. The tehsildar’s court issued demolition orders nearly one and a half months ago. The committee moved the high court, which rejected the appeal,” he said.

After the court’s decision, a 15-day notice was issued to the madrasa committee, which expired on Sunday.

Penalties and Redistribution of Land

The DM said the mosque demolished by villagers had been constructed illegally around 25 years ago. A total fine of ₹58 lakh was imposed in connection with the illegal encroachments, including a penalty of ₹8.78 lakh on the mosque’s mutawalli (maulana).

Following the demolition, the administration distributed land lease deeds (patta) to 20 selected beneficiaries on the reclaimed land.

For the operation, a special team comprising one additional superintendent of police, two tehsildars, one circle officer, six kanungos, and 24 lekhpals was constituted.

SP Krishna Kumar Bishnoi said the administration had received information several months ago about illegal construction of a mosque and madrasa on village government land in Salempur village. “A four-month notice was issued. While villagers demolished the mosque on their own on Saturday night, the madrasa remained, necessitating demolition action on Sunday,” he said.

Fresh Bulldozer Action in Raya Buzurg

In a separate but related action, the administration completed the demolition of another illegal mosque in Rawa Buzurg village, built on 552 square metres of government land. Officials said the first phase of demolition took place on October 2, 2025, while the remaining structure was removed on January 4 after villagers failed to honour earlier assurances to dismantle it themselves.

Officials said the combined actions underscore the district administration’s sustained push against power theft and illegal encroachments on government land in Sambhal.

Not only in Uttar Pradesh, huge areas of land, allegedly encroached illegally by Muslims and Muslim institutions and organisations across India—whether through forcible occupation or via Waqf properties—are believed to rank third in landholdings, just after the Railways Department and Defence authorities, according to records.
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_Inputs from ANI, HT, NDTV and  India Today.