Sambhal mosque on graveyard land razed after court order, UP officials say
Synopsis
A mosque in Sambhal was razed after UP courts found it stood on public graveyard land — but a local resident alleges the affected side was never properly heard. With posters and flags recovered from the site now under police scrutiny, the case has layers that go beyond a routine anti-encroachment action.
Key Takeaways
The Mustafa Qadri Mosque in Sambhal, UP was demolished on 6 June after courts ruled it was illegally built on public graveyard ( kabristan ) land.
District Magistrate Ankit Khandelwal said the demolition followed a Tehsildar court notice and a DM court ruling confirming the structure was illegal.
Posters reading 'I Love Mohammad' and unidentified flags were recovered from the site; police are investigating their origin.
A fine of ₹1,12,800 was imposed on the mosque manager by SDM Nidhi Patel .
Personnel from four police stations were deployed at the site during the demolition.
A local resident alleged the affected party was not heard before the order was passed, raising procedural concerns.
The Uttar Pradesh administration on Saturday, 6 June demolished the Mustafa Qadri Mosque in Sambhal, with officials stating it had been illegally constructed on a portion of a public graveyard (kabristan). The action followed a court order from the Tehsildar court and a subsequent ruling by the District Magistrate, marking the latest in a series of anti-encroachment drives across the district.
How the Demolition Came About
District Magistrate Ankit Khandelwal told reporters that the administration had received a complaint alleging illegal occupation of graveyard land. A notice was issued by the Tehsildar court directing removal of the encroachment. An appeal was then filed before the DM's court, which found during the hearing that the mosque had been built on public land and was therefore illegal.
'An appeal was filed against this at the court of the District Magistrate. During the hearing, it was found that the mosque was built on a public land and is illegal. Therefore, it needed to be demolished,' Khandelwal said.
Posters and Flags Found at the Site
During the demolition proceedings, officials said they discovered posters and flags at the site. DM Khandelwal noted that one poster bore the text 'I Love Mohammad' and that certain flags were also recovered. Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Bishnoi confirmed the finds and said authorities would determine whether the flags represented any country or religion.
'We will see whether these flags represent any country or religion and will also conduct an inquiry about the people involved in printing these and will take appropriate action,' Bishnoi told reporters. Personnel from four police stations have been deployed at the site for security purposes.
Fine Imposed on Mosque Manager
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Nidhi Patel said a fine of ₹1,12,800 has been imposed on the manager of the mosque. She said the manager had appeared before the Tehsildar but raised no objection to the demolition, and the fine was levied against him on that basis.
Residents Allege They Were Not Heard
A local resident, however, alleged that the affected side was not given adequate opportunity to present its case. 'We received a one-sided order, and they took action against our mosque based on that. The order was passed without hearing us at all, not even a single point of our side was heard,' she said. She added that a hearing date had been scheduled for the day prior, and the order was pronounced on the same day — a sequence she described as procedurally unfair.
This comes amid a broader pattern of demolition drives targeting alleged encroachments on public land in Uttar Pradesh, which have drawn both administrative support and legal challenges in recent months. The district administration has maintained that all actions are being carried out in accordance with court orders.
Point of View
A court order, and swift administrative action — with security deployed in advance. What distinguishes this case is the resident's allegation that the affected side received no meaningful hearing before the order was passed, a claim that, if borne out, raises due-process questions the administration has not yet addressed. The recovery of posters and flags — and the SP's pointed remarks about investigating their origin — risks layering a law-and-order narrative onto what began as a land-use dispute. That framing warrants scrutiny: whether the items found are legally or politically significant is still under investigation, and conflating the two issues before that inquiry concludes does a disservice to factual accountability.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Mustafa Qadri Mosque in Sambhal demolished?
The mosque was demolished on 6 June after the District Magistrate's court found it had been illegally constructed on public graveyard land. The action followed a Tehsildar court notice and an appeal hearing before the DM, both of which concluded the structure was an unlawful encroachment.
Who ordered the demolition of the Sambhal mosque?
The demolition was ordered by the Tehsildar court after a complaint about illegal occupation of graveyard land, and upheld by the court of District Magistrate Ankit Khandelwal. The SDM supervised the proceedings on the ground.
What fine was imposed and on whom?
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Nidhi Patel imposed a fine of ₹1,12,800 on the manager of the mosque, who had appeared before the Tehsildar and did not object to the demolition during those proceedings.
What were the posters and flags found at the site?
Officials found posters bearing the text 'I Love Mohammad' and certain flags during the demolition. Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Bishnoi said police are investigating whether the flags represent any country or religion and will probe those involved in printing the material.
Did the mosque's side get a chance to contest the demolition?
A local resident alleged that the affected party was not given a fair hearing, stating the order was passed without their arguments being heard. She said a hearing date had been given for the previous day, and the order was pronounced the same day. The administration has not publicly responded to this specific allegation.
