Dream School in Madhya Pradesh Torn Down After False Madrasa Rumors
Abdul Naeem watched helplessly as earthmovers tore through the walls of his nearly completed school building. This happened on the evening of January 13 in Dhaba village, Betul district. The administration ordered the demolition based on rumors that the structure was an unauthorized madrasa.
A Vision for Village Education Crumbles
For years, Naeem dreamed of building a school for local children. He wanted to provide education from nursery to Class 8 right in Dhaba village and surrounding tribal hamlets. Currently, families must send their children miles away for decent schooling.
"I decided to construct the school on my private land so my village can progress and some people can study," Naeem said. He invested nearly Rs 20 lakh into the project. This money came from borrowed funds and family savings.
Following Procedures Before the Wrecking Ball
Naeem took several official steps before beginning construction. He secured commercial land diversion and obtained a No Objection Certificate from the Gram Panchayat. On December 30, he filed his formal application with the School Education Department. He submitted all required land documents at that time.
Construction progressed steadily until three days before the demolition. That is when rumors began spreading through the area. People falsely claimed that a madrasa was being built on the site.
"This is a village with only three Muslim families. How would a madrasa even function here?" Naeem questioned. "The building wasn't even complete—no classes, no students."
Administration Acts on Panchayat Complaint
On January 11, the Gram Panchayat issued a notice ordering Naeem to demolish the structure himself. They cited lack of permission. When Naeem rushed to the panchayat office to submit a formal response, officials refused to accept his application. They told him to return later.
Two days later, as Naeem and concerned villagers travelled to meet the District Collector, the administration moved in. A JCB machine arrived at the site flanked by heavy police presence. By dusk, a portion of the school building and the front shed had been razed.
Official Defense and Builder's Dispute
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ajit Maravi defended the demolition action. He said it followed a complaint from the gram panchayat alleging encroachment and rule violations.
"A verification found that part of the construction fell under encroachment. Only the illegal portion has been removed, not the entire building," Maravi stated. He added that all mandatory permissions had not been obtained.
Naeem completely disputes this official version. "I had the panchayat NOC. I had applied for school approval. If there was any mistake in paperwork, I was ready to pay whatever fine the government demanded," he insisted.
The incident highlights how rumors can derail development projects in rural India. It also raises questions about due process and communication between citizens and local administration.
