Old structure at the site in Chilkur village
On July 21, a landowner, while leveling his land for a new project, razed an old structure at the site in Chilkur village, Moinabad Mandal of Rangareddy District. This action has sparked a significant communal dispute. Local Muslims claim that the structure was an old mosque, whereas local Hindus argue that it was merely an unused horse stable, not a religious structure.
The Muslims quickly alerted their community leaders and approached AIMIM leaders, alleging that the old structure was a mosque that had been demolished. AIMIM MLC Mirza Rahmat Baig, Principal Secretary for Minorities Welfare Department Tafseer Iqbal, and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rajendranagar) Srinivas rushed to the scene to assess the situation.
According to local sources, Muslims filed a complaint with Waqf Board officials and the police. Upon learning about the incident, MLC Rahmat Baig, State Muslim Minority President Faheem Qureshi, and hundreds of Muslims gathered at the site to offer prayers. Rajendranagar DCP Srinivas engaged in discussions with Muslim leaders while a large police force was deployed to maintain law and order. Muslims remained at the scene throughout the night, and local Tehsildar Gautam Kumar reviewed the situation.
On Tuesday morning, under the supervision of Waqf Board officials and the police, revenue officials surveyed the land related to the prayer hall and determined that four guntas of land belonged to the Waqf Board. The contentious land falls under Survey No. 134 at Chilkur village, comprising 15.34 acres. Adjoining this, Survey No. 133 has 0.04 guntas designated as Waqf land.
It is important to note that the legitimacy of the Waqf Board’s claim to the 0.04 guntas of land is highly questionable. This plot is entirely landlocked, with no designated access route or connection to any main road. Such isolation raises serious doubts about its viability as functional Waqf property.
With this, not only the residents of Chilkur village but also members of BJP, Bajrang Dal, RSS, and various Hindu organizations from several nearby areas gathered in large numbers and protested until Tuesday night on the main road near the Chilkur Balaji Temple. They shouted slogans against any construction, claiming that the structure was not a mosque but merely a horse stable. They demanded that no mosque be built under any circumstances.
The villagers argue that how could this inaccessible plot have been legitimately classified as Waqf land in the first place? The lack of connectivity suggests that this designation may be erroneous or possibly part of a dubious land-grabbing scheme. Without proper access, the land’s utility for any communal or religious purpose is severely limited, if not impossible.
The case appears to involve trespassing into the adjoining site while leveling the land. Although the exact location of the old structure has not yet been identified, the Waqf Board claims that it is within their demarcated land. Moreover, the real estate businessman is missing since the issue raised up.
At other hand, a large number of Muslims gathered at the spot on Tuesday night and offered Namaz, demanding the construction of a mosque at the disputed structure. Though, they rigged a borewell under the protection of police force.
The villagers contend that the issue of trespassing on the land is being distorted as a mosque demolition with a conspiracy to encroach on the adjoining land and disturb the communal harmony of Chilkur, which is known for its historic centuries-old Lord Balaji Temple. Hindus are demanding that police and revenue officials ensure that no non-Hindu religious structure is built within the premises of the famous Balaji Temple, which attracts thousands of devotees daily.
Speaking to Organiser, Dr. Shashidhar, Joint Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Telangana, said, “It appears that there is a large conspiracy to encroach on any vacant land under the guise of Waqf land. How come an unused horse stable become property of Wakf Board? In Telangana, most of the holy and famous temples were encroached upon during Muslim rule. This can be seen at the temple in Alampur, at Vemulawada, and the Dharmapuri Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Temple. Anti-social elements are trying to take undue advantage of the trespassing issue by turning it into a religious issue. Muslims have already dug a borewell and encroached on more than designated Wakf Land.
The VHP has urged the Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the Telangana government to take immediate action to preserve the sanctity of the Chilkur Divya Kshetram and prevent the construction of any new religious buildings near the Balaji Temple.
This geographical fact casts serious doubt on the Waqf Board’s claim. Authorities must properly study the history and circumstances behind the land’s recognition. The difference between the land’s dimensions and its alleged status demands a thorough reassessment of the claim’s trust, Dr Shashidhar added.
Speaking to the Organiser, DCP Srinivas stated that “we are maintaining the status quo of the situation and have stopped any new construction on the disputed site.”
This Chilkur village, around 25 kilometers from Hyderabad, is home to the well-known Sri Balaji Venkateshwara temple, built around 500 years ago.
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