A portion of the 185-year-old Noori Masjid was demolished on Tuesday, claiming the structure was illegal and obstructed the widening of the Banda-Bahraich Highway, amid tight security, reports PTI.
The mosque’s management committee, however, argued that the Noori Masjid in Lalauli town was built in 1839, long before the highway was constructed in 1956. The committee has filed a petition in the Allahabad High Court, which is set to hear the case on December 12.
The Public Works Department (PWD) had issued a notice for the removal of part of the mosque to clear the way for the highway widening, citing “illegal construction.” However, the mosque management did not comply with the notice, leading to the demolition.
“About 20 meters of the Noori Masjid, which was obstructing the road widening, was demolished by bulldozers on Tuesday, and the debris is now being cleared,” said Inspector Vrindavan Rai of Lalauli police station. He added that shops within a 200-meter radius around the mosque were closed, and the area within a 300-meter radius was sealed for security.
The demolition took place amid heavy security, with a large police and Rapid Action Force presence deployed in Lalauli town to maintain law and order. The precautionary measures followed previous incidents of communal tension and local opposition to demolition actions in the state.
Mohammad Moin Khan, the mutawalli (chief) of the Noori Masjid Management Committee, said that an advocate had filed a writ petition in the Allahabad High Court, seeking to prevent the demolition. He criticized the PWD’s claims, saying that the mosque predates the highway and questioning the legality of the removal order.
The petition will be heard in court on December 12.