Court Order Leads to Mosque Razed in Saharanpur Amid Political Tension
Saharanpur, September 5 – In a coordinated operation involving six bulldozers and a sizable police contingent, a mosque inside the district collectorate was demolished on Saturday. The demolition was carried out after a district court ruled the building illegal, and all procedural requirements were satisfied.
Socialist Party MP Ikra Hasan, who intended to travel to Saharanpur to raise concerns, was prevented from leaving her residence. She labeled the restriction a breach of democratic principles, questioning whether an elected official can be barred from meeting government officers.
A video released by her team shows Hasan confronting police officers who ask her to abandon the trip. She demands an explanation, leading to a tense dialogue. Hasan emphasized that democracy entrusts representatives with voicing public grievances and that silencing an MP undermines that purpose.
Her mother, former MP Tabassum Hasan, was also present at the house and protested the police action, asserting that the family is not intimidated and is dedicated to serving citizens.
Following the obstruction, Ikra Hasan clarified that her travel was meant to discuss a local issue with officials, and that stopping a parliamentarian from such engagement raises serious questions about democratic governance.
The collectorate and surrounding zones were surrounded by heightened security, including police, Provincial Armed Constabulary and Rapid Response Force units. Access to the mosque site was prohibited. Authorities insisted that notice, hearing, and appeal processes were completed before the demolition.
SP MLA Shah Nawaz Khan told reporters that the city magistrate had, on August 17, declared the mosque illegal and imposed a fine. The parties appealed, received a stay, which later expired, prompting the demolition. He added that the higher court had granted a 30‑day relief, which lapsed.
Former MP Haji Fazlur Rahman also questioned the timing, noting that the mosque side was preparing a high‑court challenge when demolition began.
DIG Abhishek Singh confirmed that after the district court dismissed the appeal, the administration proceeded, having completed all legal notifications and hearings.
The controversy traces back to a February 10, 2025 complaint by former Bajrang Dal state coordinator Vikas Tyagi, alleging the mosque was an illegal construction on government land and that rent was being collected from a nearby post office. Investigations reportedly verified the illegal status.
A petition was filed in the municipal magistrate’s court on March 24, 2025. The court, on July 16, 2026, ordered demolition, demanded compensation of ₹6.41 crore from occupants, and gave a 30‑day deadline. The mosque party appealed on July 20, but the district court on September 2 upheld the municipal order, rejecting the appeal.