Saharanpur, September 5 (Daily Kiran) : A mosque located within the Saharanpur Collectorate was demolished by local authorities on Saturday, September 5, 2026, amid heavy police presence. The demolition involved six bulldozers and followed a district court ruling. This action has prompted significant backlash from local leaders.
Ikra Hasan, a member of parliament from the Samajwadi Party representing Kairana, was stopped at her residence before she could reach Saharanpur. She condemned the move as an infringement on democratic rights, questioning whether elected representatives could be barred from meeting with officials.
A video surfaced showing Hasan in a heated exchange with police, who were urging her not to travel. She pressed for clarity on the reasons behind the obstruction, asserting that her intent was to discuss community issues with authorities. Hasan emphasized that elected officials are chosen to voice the concerns of the public and should not be silenced.
Present at her home was her mother, former MP Tabassum Hasan, who voiced her family’s determination not to be intimidated by such actions, stating their commitment to serving the community through politics. After being prevented from traveling, Ikra Hasan reiterated that her visit was crucial for addressing public matters, labeling the police’s actions as a threat to democratic processes.
In response to the demolition, stringent security measures were implemented around the Collectorate. Police, along with the Provincial Armed Constabulary and Rapid Response Force, were deployed to ensure no one approached the mosque site. Officials maintained that all necessary legal procedures, including notices and appeals, were completed prior to the demolition.
Samajwadi Party MLC Shah Nawaz Khan spoke to reporters, revealing that a decision made by the city magistrate on August 17 deemed the mosque illegal and imposed fines. He noted that after securing a stay from the court, the situation seemed stable until the sudden demolition order was executed.
Khan expressed concerns about being denied access to the Collectorate, where he encountered closed doors and conflicting reports regarding police presence. He had a meeting with the district magistrate, who assured him that all actions would comply with legal standards.
Former MP Haji Fazlur Rahman also criticized the administration’s actions, stating that the mosque’s representatives were preparing to appeal the district court’s decision when the demolition commenced.
According to DIG Abhishek Singh from the Saharanpur division, the administration began the demolition after the district court rejected the mosque’s appeal. He asserted that all legal processes were duly followed before making the decision to demolish the structure. Prior to the demolition, rumors circulated on social media about the impending action, prompting a large crowd to gather at the site. Police and administrative teams arrived to disperse the crowd.
The mosque has been at the center of controversy for some time. On February 10, 2025, Vikas Tyagi, a former state convenor of the Bajrang Dal, lodged a complaint with the district magistrate, claiming the mosque was an illegal construction on government land. Allegations included the collection of rent from rooms within the mosque premises. Following this, an investigation was conducted, which the administration claims confirmed the illegal status of the construction.
On March 24, 2025, a petition was filed in the municipal magistrate’s court for action against the mosque. On July 16, 2026, the court ruled that the mosque was an illegal structure and ordered its removal, along with a directive to recover ₹6.41 crores in damages from the occupants, granting them 30 days to comply. The mosque’s representatives challenged this order in the district court, which upheld the magistrate’s ruling on September 2, 2026.
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