Sambhal demolition drive: Imambara razed in Mukarrabpur on court order
Synopsis
Sambhal's administration razed an Imambara and a second structure in Mukarrabpur on 17 July under a Tehsildar court order — the latest in a drive that has cleared over 200 hectares in under 45 days. With a mosque and Eidgah already demolished earlier this week, the scale and pace of the operation is drawing scrutiny over due process and the resettlement promises made to displaced families.
Key Takeaways
An Imambara and one other structure were razed in Mukarrabpur, Sambhal on 17 July on a Tehsildar court directive.
The structures were built on barren land belonging to an Anganwadi centre, across more than 1,000 bighas , according to police.
More than 200 hectares of government land have been cleared in Sambhal in the past 40–45 days .
Earlier this week, a mosque and Eidgah with a 25-foot minaret were demolished in the Asmoli area under a similar court order.
Displaced landless families have been promised alternative settlements on government land, per DM Ankit Khandelwal .
Personnel from four police stations , the PAC , and the RAF were deployed to maintain order during the operation.
A Shia Imambara and an adjacent structure were demolished on Friday, 17 July in the Mukarrabpur area of Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, following a directive from a Tehsildar court, as the district administration pressed ahead with its ongoing drive against illegal encroachments on government land. The action is part of a broader clearance operation that has freed more than 200 hectares of government land in the district over the past 40–45 days.
What Was Demolished and Why
Sambhal Superintendent of Police K.K. Bishnoi said the structures — an Imambara and one other building — had been raised by encroaching on barren land belonging to an Anganwadi centre, spread across more than 1,000 bighas. He confirmed the demolition followed due legal procedure after a formal complaint was received. Heavy security was in place, with personnel drawn from four police stations along with the Rapid Action Force (RAF).
What the District Magistrate Said
Sambhal District Magistrate Ankit Khandelwal stated that the bulldozer action was carried out in strict compliance with the Tehsildar court's order. He added that landless families from the village whose structures were cleared would be provided alternative settlements on government land. 'Apart from freeing government lands of encroachments, landless families belonging to this village will be provided with settlement here. Action is being taken accordingly,' Khandelwal said.
Earlier Demolitions This Week
This is not an isolated incident. Earlier in the week, the Sambhal district administration had razed an allegedly illegal mosque and Eidgah in the Asmoli police station area, also acting on a court directive and citing construction on government land. Officials said the structure's 25-foot-tall minaret was brought down first, with demolition of the remaining portions continuing through the afternoon. More than 100 personnel from the Uttar Pradesh Police, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), and RAF were deployed to maintain order and prevent residents from gathering at the site.
Warnings to Other Encroachers
Police officials have cautioned that similar illegal encroachments across the district must be vacated voluntarily. Bishnoi warned that failure to comply could result in appropriate legal action against owners, including the imposition of fines. The administration has signalled that the clearance drive will continue. 'We will keep on taking similar action,' Khandelwal said.
Broader Context
The Sambhal demolition drive is part of a wider pattern of court-directed anti-encroachment actions seen across several districts in Uttar Pradesh in recent months. Critics and civil society groups have raised concerns about due process and adequate notice to affected residents, though officials maintain all actions follow established legal procedure. The district administration's assertion that displaced homeless families will be resettled on government land has yet to be independently verified.
Point of View
An Eidgah, and now an Imambara within the same week — mark a significant escalation in pace and optics. Officials are careful to frame each action as court-directed and legally compliant, but the speed of clearance across 200-plus hectares in 40–45 days invites scrutiny: were affected residents given adequate notice, and is the resettlement promise for displaced families backed by any formal order? In Uttar Pradesh's charged political environment, bulldozer actions on religious structures carry weight well beyond municipal land management, and the administration's credibility will rest on whether the resettlement commitments are actually delivered.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was demolished in Sambhal's Mukarrabpur on 17 July?
An Imambara and one adjacent structure were demolished in the Mukarrabpur area of Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, on 17 July, following an order from a Tehsildar court. Authorities said both structures had been illegally built on barren land belonging to an Anganwadi centre.
Why is the Sambhal administration carrying out these demolitions?
The demolitions are being carried out to clear illegal encroachments from government land, acting on court directives. District Magistrate Ankit Khandelwal said more than 200 hectares of government land have been freed in the past 40–45 days, and the drive will continue.
What happened to the displaced families whose structures were razed?
Officials said landless families from the area whose structures were demolished will be provided alternative settlements on government land. However, this commitment has not yet been independently verified or backed by a publicly available formal order.
Were any other religious structures demolished in Sambhal recently?
Yes. Earlier in the same week, the Sambhal administration demolished an allegedly illegal mosque and Eidgah in the Asmoli police station area, also under a court directive. The structure's 25-foot-tall minaret was brought down first, with over 100 security personnel deployed.
What legal process was followed before the demolitions?
Superintendent of Police K.K. Bishnoi said the demolitions were carried out after due legal procedure was followed upon receipt of a formal complaint, and in compliance with orders from a Tehsildar court. Police and RAF personnel were deployed to maintain law and order at the site.
