A mosque, dargah, and graveyard, reportedly over 500 years old, were demolished in Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district on September 28.
The Supreme Court had recently ordered a halt to all demolitions across the country unless prior permission was obtained, with exceptions for public road encroachments and specific areas.
However, the Gujarat administration proceeded with the demolition, citing the need to clear “illegal constructions” near the historic Somnath temple as part of the Somnath Development Project.
The demolition, described as the largest in the district’s history, involved 36 bulldozers, 30 JCBs, and 50 tractors, among other heavy machinery.
To ensure the operation’s execution, the authorities deployed 1,200 police officers, with senior officials, including district collectors and police superintendents, overseeing the process. The area was sealed off, restricting access to authorized personnel for public safety.
The demolition sparked resistance, with 70 individuals detained for attempting to block the operation at a religious site.
The local government had earlier initiated an anti-encroachment campaign targeting about three hectares of “illegally occupied” land behind the temple, aiming to remove structures built without proper authorization.