UP govt continues crackdown on ‘illegal’ madrasas, mosques near Nepal border

The government said madrasas operating without recognition and in violation of prescribed norms are being sealed, while unauthorised religious structures built on government land are being demolished. So far, hundreds of illegal constructions have been targeted under this campaign.

The drive reinforces its zero-tolerance stance on unlawful encroachments and unregulated religious establishments, the government said.

In Shravasti district, five illegal madrasas were sealed on Thursday. In villages like Bhartha and Roshan Garh in Bhinga tehsil, illegal mosques built on government land were demolished.

With this, the authorities so far have acted against 41 religious structures in the district. In total, action has been taken against 139 structures. They have cleared temporary and permanent encroachments within 15 kilometers of the Nepal border.

Action also continued in Pilibhit district, officials said.

In Balrampur district, eight madrasas were served notices and three illegal mazars were removed. Five more mazars were issued notices, it is learnt. In total, 16 encroachments were identified. At one place, action against an Eidgah built without permission is also being reviewed. So far, 20 madrasas were found violating norms and not following the required curriculum and have all been shut down. Two other madrasas that failed to submit records within the one-week deadline were also served notices, the officials said.

In Nanpara and Mihipurwa tehsils of Bahraich district, eight encroachments were removed on Wednesday and Thursday . In total, 135 illegal structures have been demolished so far in the district.

Earlier, five madrasas were sealed. Encroachments were removed voluntarily by the individuals in three cases on Thursday, they added.

In Sidharth Nagar district, action was taken against 17 illegal religious structures, including three mosques and 14 unregistered madrasas.