Prayagraj, Oct 4 (NationPress) The Allahabad High Court is set to review a petition on Saturday contesting the demolition actions against unlawful constructions in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh.

The petition involves several parties, including the state government, the District Magistrate, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Sambhal, the Additional District Magistrate (ADM), the Tehsildar, and the village council of Gosulbara Ravan Buzurg.

On Dussehra, the district administration initiated a significant demolition operation targeting encroachments, resulting in the demolition of a mosque and a marriage hall erected on government-owned land in Rawa Buzurg village.

This operation, executed on October 2, transformed the area into a heavily secured zone, with nearly 200 police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel mobilized. Drones were deployed for real-time monitoring of the exercise.

According to SDM Vikas Chandra, the marriage hall was built on land designated as a government pond.

"The village possesses two government records -- plot number 691 allocated for a pond and plot number 459 assigned as a compost pit. The hall was constructed on pond land and has therefore been demolished," he stated.

The administration also issued a notice to a mosque situated on compost pit land within the same village.

However, following a request from the mosque management committee for a four-day extension, the administration issued a temporary moratorium.

"The committee members have voluntarily agreed to remove the illegal structures in collaboration with the District Magistrate. This cooperation aims to prevent any potential law-and-order issues," an official remarked.

District Magistrate Rajender Pensia emphasized that the actions were taken in strict adherence to legal regulations.

"There was an encroachment on a 2,310 square metre pond. We are merely enforcing the Tehsildar Court's order under Section 67. Our team, along with police and revenue officials, executed the demolition under proper supervision," he clarified.

Sambhal's Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishna Kumar Bishnoi stated that sufficient time had already been allocated to the encroachers.

"Notices were issued, granting them 30 days to remove illegal structures. As they failed to comply, the administration was left with no choice but to act," the SP explained.

By the afternoon, mosque committee members began voluntarily dismantling the disputed constructions.

"We are working together with the administration to maintain peace and harmony in the area," the committee declared in a statement.