Sambhal Villagers Take Demolition Into Their Own Hands After Official Order
In a significant development in Sambhal district, villagers from Mubarakpur Band village have initiated the demolition of structures alleged to be illegally constructed on government land. The action targets a mosque, a madrasa, and several shops that officials say encroached upon approximately 3.5 bighas of land originally designated for a playground and manure pits.
Demolition Drive Follows Official Inquiry and Notices
The demolition process, which has been ongoing over the past week in the Asmoli police station area, was prompted by an official inquiry that confirmed the encroachment. Authorities had previously issued notices regarding the illegal constructions. Tehsildar Dhirendra Singh stated that the drive continued on Monday, emphasizing that these structures were built without authorization on government property.
"These structures were found built illegally on govt land. Notices had been issued earlier, and demolition is continuing," Singh said, underscoring the legal basis for the action.
Villagers Proceed Manually Amid Lack of Machinery
Despite requests for a bulldozer to expedite the work, no machinery arrived in the village on Monday, leading residents to continue the demolition manually. Haji Munawwar, the husband of the village pradhan, reported that they had informed the lekhpal, but he did not visit, and the JCB machine also failed to appear.
"We informed the lekhpal as well, but he did not come to the village. The JCB machine also did not arrive on Monday, so people here continued the demolition on their own," Munawwar explained.
Challenges in Demolition Efforts
The demolition faced obstacles, including a JCB operator who worked for two hours and 18 minutes on Sunday, charging Rs 2,100, but refused to demolish the mosque's 35-foot minaret due to safety concerns. "When he was asked to demolish the minaret, he refused, saying there was a risk of injury, and after that he did not return," Munawwar added.
Following this, villagers collectively took on the task of removing the remaining illegal structures. Earlier, a contract worth Rs 80,000 had been awarded to a local man named Abid to demolish the madrasa and shops, but the work remained incomplete.
Affected Structures and Shops
The demolition has so far involved parts of the mosque, madrasa, and five shops, while a primary school building and eight houses are yet to be razed. The shops under demolition include:
- A samosa-pakora shop operated by Mohd Hamid
- A vegetable shop owned by Mohd Afzal
- Another samosa-pakora shop run by Shane Alam
- A medical store owned by Mohd Farman
- A Jan Seva Kendra run by Mohd Ajgar
This incident highlights the ongoing issue of land encroachment in rural areas and the community's proactive response to enforce official orders, despite logistical challenges and the absence of mechanized support.
