UP: Illegal madrasa built on gram sabha land being demolished in Muzaffarnagar

Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 24 (ANI): An illegal madrasa built on gram sabha land in Phulat village under Ratanpuri police station area is being demolished by the local administration as part of an anti-encroachment drive.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muzaffarnagar, Sanjay Kumar Verma, stated that an illegal madrasa in Phulat village is being demolished following a probe into allegations of religious conversions and unauthorised construction on government land.
Speaking on the action, SSP Sanjay Kumar Verma told ANI that the matter came to light after a complaint was filed at the Ratanpuri police station regarding the illegal operation of the madrasa and its involvement in religious conversions.
"A complaint was received at the Ratanpuri police station in Muzaffarnagar district. A madrasa was operating illegally, and a matter concerning the religious conversion of Hindu girls there was brought to notice. Based on this, a case was registered against Hafiz-ur-Rehman Ansari, Zubair Ansari, and Junnaid Ansari, who were arrested and remain in jail; the charge sheet has already been filed," SSP Verma said.
The SSP further informed that the District Magistrate took cognisance of the irregularities, leading to a formal inquiry by revenue officials.
"The District Magistrate also took cognisance of the matter. Subsequently, an inquiry into the madrasa--located in Phulat village under the jurisdiction of Ratanpuri police station--was conducted by the offices of the Tehsildar and the ADM. Based on the findings, the structure was declared illegal, and demolition proceedings are currently underway; a significant portion has already been demolished," he added.
Earlier in the month of June, the management of an illegal madrasa built on government-owned pond land in Sitapur has begun self-demolishing the structure following a stern order and a heavy fine imposed by the district administration.
The action follows an order issued under Section 67(5) by the DM's court, which mandated the immediate removal of the illegal structure and upheld a fine of Rs 10 lakh. (ANI)