Bulldozers raze four mazars in Katarniaghat
's Bahraich district demolished four shrines — Lakkadshah, Bhawarshah, Chamanshah and Shahenshah — located within the forested core zone of the Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary under the Murtiha forest range.
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The action was taken after those claiming ownership failed to provide valid documentation establishing legal possession of the land.
Divisional forest officer (DFO), B Shivshankar said the structures were encroaching upon ecologically sensitive land inhabited by protected wildlife, including tigers. "A notice for eviction was served earlier. The only document produced by the caretakers was dated 1986, and they failed to prove any legal rights to the land prior to that year," he said.The DFO said that the matter had been pending in court for years and that the verdict recently came in the forest department's favour.
Following the legal clearance, authorities issued multiple notices to the parties concerned asking them to remove the encroachments voluntarily. However, when they failed to comply, a late-night demolition drive was launched.
More than half-a-dozen bulldozers were deployed for the overnight operation, which razed all four shrines. Debris from the demolished structures is also being cleared swiftly, the forest department said.The Lakkadshah dargah, in particular, was a well-known religious site believed to be several centuries old.
It hosted an annual fair during the Hindu month of Jyeshtha, which attracted large crowds, both Hindu and Muslim.
However, forest department prohibited fair this year, citing ecological concerns.
"The site lies in the core zone of the sanctuary, home to several endangered species. Any human activity, let alone permanent structures, threatens the delicate ecosystem," Shivshankar added.
President of the shrine management committee, Rais Ahmad expressed dismay over the action.
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"The fair held here each year is a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity, with over 60% of the visitors being Hindus. For decades, even the forest department used to issue tenders and collect fees for stalls during the fair. Now, they are suddenly declaring these structures illegal," he said. Rais alleged that department's earlier involvement in the annual fair undermines its current claims of encroachment.
"What changed now? The same authorities that once facilitated the fair are now demolishing the very site they supported," he questioned. Officials said the forest area has been declared a critical tiger habitat, making it a highly sensitive and protected ecosystem. The encroachments were reportedly labelled as ancient waqf properties by local committees, who cited waqf property number 108. However, their claims were rejected during the hearing.tnn
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