In recent developments, unauthorised Islamic religious structures, ‘Mazars’ have been founded on defence lands in Uttarakhand, raising significant security and administrative concerns. Notably, in Ranikhet, 13 illegal mazars have been identified on land belonging to the Defense Estate Department. A joint survey by the Forest Department, Cantonment Board, and local police brought these encroachments to light.
These mazars have been constructed in highly sensitive defence zones, including areas adjacent to the Ranikhet Army School and within the cantonment’s forested regions. The presence of these structures in such critical locations raises several pressing questions: Who authorised their construction? Who frequents these sites? Given that these areas are often used for military exercises and personnel training, the unauthorised presence of such structures poses potential security risks. Some Mazars are built with permanent materials like concrete, while others are temporary structures with tin sheds. Despite the Cantonment Board’s survey identifying these illegal constructions, no concrete steps have been taken to remove them.
Further reports indicate the presence of a Mazar in the Kotdwar Army area and another within a significant complex in Dehradun’s cantonment zone. In the Kalsi region, near the army area, a cemetery has been established. Although the Forest Department had taken action against such encroachments two years prior, recent information suggests that new graves have been constructed in the reserved forest area, highlighting ongoing challenges in curbing unauthorized land use.
Uttarakhand, often referred to as ‘Devbhoomi’ (Land of the Gods), has witnessed a surge in the construction of illegal Mazars in recent years. There have been instances where such structures, once established, are subsequently registered with the Waqf Board, indicating a potential strategy to legitimize these encroachments over time.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has taken a firm stance against such unauthorized constructions. In a recent program in Sahaspur, he emphasized that land jihad and encroachments would not be tolerated in Devbhoomi. He assured that the state’s cultural identity would be preserved, signaling the administration’s commitment to addressing these challenges.
The issue of illegal religious structures is not confined to defense lands alone. In April 2023, Chief Minister Dhami highlighted that the state had identified approximately 1,000 locations where Mazars and other structures had been illegally erected to encroach upon public land. He stated, “We are not against anyone, but we won’t allow illegal encroachments. We won’t allow land jihad here.” He further mentioned that upon inspection, many of these sites lacked any human remains beneath them, suggesting that the structures were built without legitimate grounds.
The Chief Minister reiterated his warning against illegal Mazars, urging those responsible to remove such structures voluntarily. He cautioned that if these unauthorized constructions were not dismantled by the occupiers themselves, the administration would proceed with demolition. He emphasised that while the government does not intend to harm anyone, it will not permit appeasement or unlawful activities, especially those that alter the state’s demographic balance.
The administration’s proactive measures include a statewide crackdown on illegal religious structures, particularly those in protected forest areas. In December 2023, the Forest Department demolished 15 illegal structures in the Dehradun forest division. A departmental survey revealed that approximately 293 unauthorised Islamic religious structures had been erected in the state’s protected forests, underscoring the magnitude of the issue.
