14 illegal shops outside mosque demolished in Ghaziabad after court order

Ghaziabad (UP), Jun 8 (PTI) The district administration on Monday demolished 14 shops allegedly built illegally on a roadside land outside Jama Masjid in Begumabad Budhana village of the Modinagar area, officials said.

The demolition was carried out under the supervision of the Modinagar Sub-Divisional Magistrate in the presence of the Assistant Commissioner of Police and heavy police deployment.

The action followed an order passed by the SDM court on May 30 this year, which declared the disputed land as the property of the Modinagar Municipal Council and termed the 14 shops constructed on it illegal, officials said.

The court had also imposed a penalty of Rs 2.22 crore on the mosque committee in connection with the matter.

According to officials,

the land outside the mosque had been the subject of a long-standing dispute between the municipal council and the mosque committee. The matter was pending before the SDM court.

Following the court order, notices were issued to the shopkeepers and concerned parties, directing them to vacate the shops and remove the structures within 48 hours.

The demolition drive on Monday was launched, following expiry of the deadline. Officials said several shopkeepers had voluntarily vacated their shops before the action, while the remaining structures were removed using bulldozers.

The action was carried out on land recorded as a public pathway under Gata number 1014 in Begumabad Budhana village, the administration said, adding that around 700.9 square metres of land was freed from alleged encroachment. A gate constructed between the shops was also demolished.

After being cleared of encroachment, the land was handed over to the custody of the Modinagar Municipal Council, SDM Ajit Kumar said.

He said the estimated value of the freed land, according to the circle rate, was around Rs 2.75 crore.

DCP (Rural) Surendra Nath Tiwari said adequate police force was deployed to maintain law and order during the operation. Security arrangements were strengthened in view of the sensitivity of the area and the situation was continuously monitored.

Officials from the revenue department, municipal council and police, along with Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel, were present during the demolition drive. PTI KIS SHS SHS SHS