UP madrassa, linked to conversions, partially demolished over illegal construction

The Muzaffarnagar administration partially demolished a madrasa after finding alleged illegal construction on public land. The action came amid an ongoing case over alleged religious conversions and a wider land enquiry.Madrassa demolished in UP over alleged encroachment (representative photo)A madrasa in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district was partially demolished by the administration on Sunday over alleged illegal construction on local land. Earlier, the madrassa came under scrutiny over allegations of forced religious conversions.The action was carried out at Madarsa Darul Uloom Rahimiya in Phulat village. Authorities used a bulldozer to remove portions of the structure that were allegedly found to have been illegally constructed on public land.Earlier, it was alleged that Hindu men and women were being subjected to religious conversion in the madrassa. Following a complaint, the local police station registered a case against operator Maulana Hafizur Rahman Ansari and his two sons, Zubair Ansari and Junaid Ansari.The case was registered under Sections 352 and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3 and 5(2) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021. Police subsequently arrested Junaid Ansari, who remains in jail. According to Muzaffarnagar SSP Sanjay Kumar Verma, a chargesheet has also been filed in the case.PROBE INTO MADRASSA LANDWhile the alleged conversion case was being investigated, the madrassa also faced allegations of encroaching upon public gram sabha land. According to senior cop Sanjay Kumar Verma, an administrative enquiry was conducted following directions from senior officials. The matter was examined by officials from the local administration and the office of the Additional District Magistrate.The enquiry found that the construction violated provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006. Officials invoked Section 67/5 of the Revenue Code in determining the construction to be illegal.Following the findings, the district administration initiated demolition proceedings against the allegedly illegal portions of the madrasa.STRICT ACTION WILL BE ENSUREDSpeaking about the action, Verma said that action under the Gangsters Act could also be initiated against the accused, adding that the police would invoke other stringent legal provisions wherever applicable.The demolition action comes against the backdrop of the ongoing legal proceedings in the alleged religious conversion case, with the administration now taking separate action over the alleged illegal occupation and construction on public land.- EndsInputs from Sandeep SainiPublished By: Akash ChatterjeePublished On: Aug 23, 2026 22:58 IST