Saharanpur: Illegal mosque inside DM office complex demolished under high security

On Saturday, authorities in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh demolished an illegal mosque situated within the District Magistrate's office complex. The structure was declared illegal by a court earlier, leading to the demolition under high security measures. Senior officials, including the District Magistrate and Sub-Divisional Magistrate, were present at the site as bulldozers dismantled the mosque.

The Collectorate complex was secured with Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel and all gates closed to ensure safety. This action came after the District Judge's court dismissed an appeal on September 5, upholding the City Magistrate's order from July 17. The order declared the mosque illegal and imposed a compensation fee of around Rs 6.41 crore on the occupants for alleged illegal encroachment and misuse of government land.

The case was filed by Vikas Tyagi, a former provincial coordinator of Bajrang Dal, who claimed the mosque was built illegally on sensitive government premises and used for commercial purposes, including a post office and rented-out rooms. The administration argued that these activities raised significant security concerns.