The Barabanki administration in Uttar Pradesh has demolished a mosque in the district, saying that an “illegal residential complex” was fo...
The Barabanki administration in Uttar Pradesh has demolished a mosque in the district, saying that an “illegal residential complex” was found opposite the sub-divisional magistrate’s residence, reported The Hindu on Tuesday. The administration said that the complex was demolished on Monday on orders issued by the sub-divisional magistrate’s court.
The Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board on Tuesday condemned the demolition and demanded the mosque be restored, calling it a “patently illegal and high-handed action”. The board said that the action was done on the pretext of removing encroachment.
In a statement, the board said that it will move the Allahabad High Court seeking the restoration of the mosque, a high-level judicial inquiry, and action against the “guilty officers”.
Zufar Faruqi, the chairperson of the Sunni Waqf Board, said that the mosque was 100 years old. “This act is against law, a misuse of power, and in utter violation of the clear orders dated April 24 passed by the [Allahabad] High Court,” Faruqi said.
The board’s chief was referring to an order passed by the Allahabad High Court on April 24, barring demolitions in the state till May 31. Taking in view of the surge in coronavirus cases, the High Court had said that any order of eviction, dispossession or demolition passed...
