Crackdown on illegal religious establishments in districts along India-Nepal border continues

Lucknow: The crackdown on illegal encroachments and unauthorized religious establishments in districts along the India-Nepal border continued on Monday.

Special drives were conducted in Shravasti, Bahraich, Siddharthnagar, Maharajganj, and Balrampur to reclaim valuable govt land unlawfully occupied for years.

Bahraich DM Monica Rani said that the campaign was carried out on the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

An illegal mosque in the district was demolished, and 171 encroachments have been cleared so far. In Siddharthnagar's Shohratgarh area, a notice was issued for the removal of an unauthorized madrassa built on plot in village Bagulhawa. Following the notice, the encroachment was voluntarily removed by Ghulam Mahiuddin.

Shravasti district magistrate Ajay Kumar Dwivedi reported that five unrecognized madrasas were identified on Monday. Additionally, an illegal madrasa built on govt land in the village Rahmatugaon, Tehsil Jamunha, was demolished, while four unrecognised madrasas on private land were sealed.

In Maharajganj, DM Anunay Jha stated that during an inspection within a 10-km radius of the India-Nepal international border, an illegal shrine (mazar) was found in Tehsil Nautanwa. Similarly, an illegal shrine built on forest department land in village Ratanwa, Tehsil Balrampur, was also demolished.

The Yogi govt has clarified that no illegal encroachments or unauthorised religious or educational institutions will be permitted within a 15-kilometre radius of the Nepal border.