Deoria, January 11: The district administration in Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh has kicked off bulldozer action to remove an illegal Islamic structure built on government land under the Gorakhpur Overbridge in the city.
On Friday, the SDM court declared it illegally built on government land. Following the court order, the administration began demolition proceedings with bulldozers on Sunday.
Social organizations and local residents had been protesting for a long time to remove this illegal shrine of Hazrat Shaheed Syed Abdul Ghani Shah Baba, built near the Gorakhpur Overbridge. However, only now has the administration initiated the process of removing the structure.
The district and police administration had made extensive preparations to demolish this illegal structure. Police were alerted in advance to maintain law and order, and three bulldozers were deployed to demolish the structure. All material stored within the illegal structure is being safely removed to prevent any damage.
Surprisingly, the owners of this structure were well aware that it was illegally constructed on government land. Despite this, they not only continued to expand but also held periodic events to demonstrate their power, drawing crowds from distant lands.
Upon learning of the continued expansion of this illegal structure a few months ago, Sadar MLA Dr Shalabh Mani Tripathi informed the administration about the matter and urged legal action.
Following the MLA’s proactive action, the SDM court, hearing the complaint, declared the land in question as government/barren land and deemed the illegally constructed shrine unrecognizable.
The court, while hearing the case and disposing of it as a legal decision, ordered the demolition of the illegal structure. The district administration is taking this action in compliance with the order. Those associated with the shrine were also asked to vacate.
The local administration says that the entire process of removing this illegal structure, using three bulldozers, is being carried out within the legal framework and peacefully. Currently, a heavy police force is deployed in the area, and the situation remains normal.