UP’s Deoria administration demolishes shrine after court order
The district administration in Uttar Pradesh’s Deoria on Sunday began demolishing an allegedly “illegally” constructed “mazar” (shrine) following a local court order, officials said.
The structure, known as the Hazrat Shaheed Syed Abdul Gani Shah Baba shrine, stood on barren government land near an overbridge on the Deoria–Gorakhpur Road. The demolition was carried out using bulldozers under heavy police deployment to prevent any untoward incident.
The action followed an order by the Sadar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) court, which declared the land to be government property and ruled that the shrine had no legal recognition. After hearing all parties, the court directed the removal of the encroachment.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Shruti Sharma said the drive was conducted strictly in accordance with legal procedures and in a peaceful manner. “The situation in the area is completely normal,” she said.
The shrine’s management committee had begun removing items from the premises ahead of the demolition. Committee president Rashid Khan said they were complying with the court’s order and extending full cooperation to the administration.
The dispute dates back to 2019, when local BJP leaders filed a complaint alleging illegal construction on government land.
Swami Prasad Maurya, National President of the Apni Janata Party, condemned the demolition of the Hazrat Shahid Syed Abdul Gani Shah Baba mausoleum, calling it “extremely unfortunate” and a “cowardly act” by the district administration.
He said that by razing the historic shrine with a bulldozer, the authorities had not only destroyed a heritage structure in Deoria but had also “deeply hurt the faith of millions of Hindus and Muslims” in the district and surrounding areas, adding that “the public will never forgive this.”
