The Uttar Pradesh government demolished the Madni Mosque in Kushinagar’s Kata area on February 9, citing encroachment on government land. The move followed a complaint by Hindutva workers and the expiration of a high court stay order on February 8.
Authorities had asked the mosque committee for ownership documents, but they failed to provide them. A heavy police force, including BSF personnel, oversaw the demolition using five bulldozers.
The mosque committee claimed the land was purchased 15 years ago, but a district survey found part of it on government property. Three committee members were booked for allegedly forging documents.
The mosque, a key religious center for over two decades, served as a hub for Islamic education and the Tablighi Jamaat. Its demolition has sparked tensions, with the Muslim community expressing distress, while authorities defend it as part of an anti-encroachment drive. The incident has reignited debates on religious freedom and property rights.