The All-India Muslim Law Board and the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board on Tuesday alleged that UP’s Barabanki administration demolished a mosque and demanded a judicial inquiry into it.
Meanwhile, the officials said they pulled down an illegal construction by orders of the court.
All-India Muslim Law Board (AIMPLB) working general secretary Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rehmani claimed that on Monday night, the century-old Garib Nawaz mosque in Ram Sanehi Ghat tehsil was knocked down by the administration without any legal warrant in the presence of cops.
He also said that as there was no conflict relating to the mosque, it was also listed with the Sunni Waqf Board. In March, the SDM (Sub Divisional Magistrate) of Ram Sanehi Ghat had asked for mosque’s papers from the mosque committee against which the management committee of mosque had approached the Allahabad High Court. But at last, the mosque was toppled by the administration without any notice.
He requested a judicial probe into the case by a sitting HC judge and demanded the suspension of officials accountable for the action.
He also urged to discontinue the process of removing the debris from the spot and ensure that no other construction would be permitted to come up on that land.
He said that it was government’s duty to build the mosque at the place and hand it over to the Muslims.
Meanwhile, District Magistrate Adarsh Singh described the building of mosque and its residential area, as illegal.
He said a notice was given on March 15 to the concerned people, granting them an opportunity to put forward their views over the ownership but the residents over there had deserted after receiving the notice.
Therefore, he said the tehsil administration seized it on March 18.
He added the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad HC had dismissed the petition filed in connection to the mosque on April 2, which proved that it was illegal construction.
Later, a case was filed in the court of the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Ram Sanehi Ghat, and its orders were arranged on May 17, the district magistrate said.
Joint magistrate Divyanshu Patel also called the structure as illegal. The construction was toppled by the court orders, he said.
The UP Sunni Central Waqf Board also criticised the incident, calling it as the misuse of power.
Waqf Board chairman Zufar Farooqui said in the name of removing an intrusion, the mosque near the tehsil premises has been demolished by the Ram Sanehi Ghat SDM. He strongly condemn this illegal and arbitrary action. He added, that soon they will file a case in the court in regards to this.
