Bahraich Administration Demolishes 10 Unauthorised Mazaars on Government Land
The district administration in Bahraich took decisive action on Monday. They demolished ten mazaars, or shrines, built on government land. These structures stood adjacent to the Maharaja Suheldev Autonomous State Medical College. Officials stated the demolition followed a formal complaint from the college administration. The complaint alleged the mazaars were unauthorised and encroached upon public land.
Local Protests and Voluntary Dismantling
A joint team of district administration and police personnel arrived at the site. They carried out the demolition despite protests from local residents. Some people voiced strong objections to the removal of the religious structures. Officials reported that authorities removed several mazaars themselves. However, caretakers and others voluntarily dismantled some of the shrines before the operation.
Longstanding Legal Battle Since 2002
City Magistrate Rajesh Prasad explained the complex history behind this case. The issue first emerged in 2002 when the district administration ordered removal of the mazaars. That order could not be implemented because concerned parties challenged it in court. In 2004, the district magistrate stayed the city magistrate's order. The magistrate directed compliance with further legal procedures instead.
The matter eventually reached the commissioner's court. Petitioners did not receive any relief from that court either. The commissioner's court passed its final order in 2019. No immediate action followed that decision because parties assured administration they would remove structures within two days. Those assurances proved empty as the mazaars remained standing.
Medical College Complaint Triggers Action
Maharaja Suheldev Autonomous State Medical College was constructed in 2018 near the mazaar site. On January 10, college administration submitted a fresh complaint to district authorities. They alleged people managing the mazaars had encroached upon additional government land. The complaint stated these individuals continued expanding the structures without authorisation.
Following this complaint, officials examined revenue records carefully. They issued notices directing removal of the mazaars by January 17. These notices contained clear warnings. If structures were not removed voluntarily by the deadline, administration would carry out demolition on January 19. The administration followed through on that warning exactly as promised.
This demolition represents the culmination of a two-decade legal struggle over land use near the medical college. Local protests highlight the emotional significance of these religious sites for some community members. The administration maintains it acted according to law to reclaim government property from unauthorised occupation.
