Shia cleric urges thorough probe after Saharanpur mosque is razed

On Monday, Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawad Naqvi, a senior Shia cleric, sat down with Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak in Lucknow. The purpose? To push for a painstaking, step‑by‑step investigation into the demolition of a mosque that sat inside the Saharanpur Collectorate complex.

Naqvi told reporters that his delegation asked the Deputy CM to make sure every angle—legal, administrative and communal—was examined before any final judgment was taken. “We want a thorough probe and a decision only after that,” he said, his tone reflecting both frustration and resolve.

The controversy stems from a court order that saw the mosque, allegedly over a hundred years old, pulled down early Saturday. The District Judge upheld an appeal by the mosque committee, rejecting it and confirming the City Magistrate’s earlier July 17 ruling that the structure was an illegal encroachment on government land. That judgment also stipulated compensation of roughly ₹6.41 crore.

Authorities say they acted strictly within legal parameters. Saharanpur DIG Abhishek Singh said extra Provincial Armed Constabulary and Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed to keep the peace, and police were monitoring social media to curb rumors.

The demolition has sparked a chorus of criticism. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai called the act “deeply unfortunate” and announced a fact‑finding team would visit Saharanpur on September 7. “The mosque predates the collectorate; it’s part of our heritage,” Rai remarked. Likewise, Lucknow’s Eidgah Imam, Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, condemned the move, invoking the Supreme Court’s Places of Worship Act and urging the government to protect all religious sites.

As the debate rages, Naqvi’s appeal for a comprehensive probe adds another layer to an already heated discussion about heritage, law and communal harmony in the state.