In a late-night operation, the Balrampur district administration in Uttar Pradesh finally demolished an illegally constructed religious structure, a 'mazaar', located within the premises of a police station. The decisive action, carried out on Monday night, came after a prolonged legal battle spanning over a decade, culminating in a court order that restored the land to the police department.
The Long-Standing Illegal Occupation
Officials detailed that the contentious structure was originally built back in 2013 on a plot of 0.18 acres of land officially belonging to the Sadullahnagar police station. The administration alleged that the construction took place under the influence of former Samajwadi Party MLA, Arif Anwar Hashmi.
It was claimed that the former MLA formed a committee and appointed his brother, Maaruf Anwar Hashmi, as its manager. This committee was accused of orchestrating a fraudulent recording of the police land in the name of 'Mazar Sharif Baba Shaheede Millat Abdul Quddus Shah'.
Legal Journey and Court Verdict
The turning point in the case arrived on March 19, 2024, when the sub-divisional magistrate (Utraula) ruled in favour of the police department. The magistrate's order cancelled the illegal mutation of the land. Although the committee managed to secure a temporary stay from the Commissioner's Court briefly, their legal recourse ultimately failed.
The case was fully dismissed on November 28, 2025, clearing the final legal hurdle and granting the administration the explicit permission needed to proceed with the demolition. This judicial green flag ended years of illegal occupation.
Peaceful Demolition and Official Statements
The day-long demolition operation was conducted under a heavy police deployment to prevent any untoward incident. Movement around the police station was restricted until late evening to ensure the process remained peaceful and orderly.
Commenting on the action, Superintendent of Police Vikas Kumar stated that the police station land had been "under illegal occupation for years" and was now freed "strictly as per judicial orders." The operation marks a significant enforcement of the rule of law, reclaiming state property that had been encroached upon for over twelve years.
