In a significant crackdown on land encroachment near the Indo-Nepal border, the Uttar Pradesh government has demolished 286 unauthorised religious structures across seven districts. The action targeted 225 madrasas, 30 mosques, 25 mazars, and six eidgahs.
Demolition Drive Intensifies Across 7 Districts Near Nepal Border
The Uttar Pradesh government’s demolition drive is underway in seven districts bordering Nepal, including Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar, Balrampur, Shravasti, Bahraich, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Pilibhit. According to official data, Shravasti has seen the highest number of demolitions, with authorities razing 100 illegal madrasas, one mosque, five mazars, and two eidgahs.
In Siddharthnagar, authorities demolished 35 illegal madrasas and nine mosques. In Balrampur, the crackdown led to the removal of 30 madrasas, 10 mazars, and one eidgah deemed unauthorised.
Maharajganj witnessed the demolition of 29 madrasas, nine mosques, seven mazars, and one eidgah. In Bahraich, 13 madrasas, eight mosques, two mazars, and one eidgah were razed. Lakhimpur Kheri saw action against eight madrasas, two mosques, one mazar, and one eidgah. In Pilibhit, only a single mosque was identified as illegal and subsequently demolished.
UP में जमकर गरजा योगी का बुलडोजर
एक सप्ताह में
– 225 अवैध मदरसे
– 30 मस्जिद
– 25 मजार /दरगाह
– 6 ईदगाहों को मिट्टी में मिला दिया गयाअकेले श्रावस्ती जिले में 110 अवैध ढांचों को ध्वस्त किया गया. नेपाल बॉर्डर पर योगी जी का ये ज़ोरदार बुलडोजर एक्शन हुआ है pic.twitter.com/y5fGjcYHl3
— Abhay Pratap Singh (बहुत सरल हूं) (@IAbhay_Pratap) May 19, 2025
Here is the district-wise breakdown of the demolitions carried out near the Indo-Nepal border
Shravasti: 110 madrasas, 1 mosque, 5 mazars, and 2 eidgahs
Siddharthnagar: 35 madrasas and 9 mosques
Balrampur: 30 madrasas, 10 mazars, and 1 eidgah
Maharajganj: 29 madrasas, 9 mosques, 7 mazars, and 1 eidgah
Bahraich: 13 madrasas, 8 mosques, 2 mazars, and 1 eidgah
Lakhimpur Kheri: 8 madrasas, 2 mosques, 1 mazar, and 1 eidgah
Pilibhit: 1 mosque
Government’s Rationale: Encroachment removal and border security
The ongoing demolition drive is being carried out under the direct orders of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who has mandated the removal of encroachments within a 10-km radius of the Indo-Nepal border. Officials explained that this initiative’s primary goals are to reclaim illegally occupied government and forest land and enhance border security. So far, 429 encroachment cases have been identified in the region, including 345 illegal madrasas. Additionally, 41 mosques and 43 mazars have been marked for further action. Of these, 139 madrasas have already been sealed.
#Nepal बोर्डर पर अवैध बनी हुई 30 मस्जिद, 225 मदरसे, 25 मजार और 6 ईदगाह पर चलाया गया बुलडोजर।#UttarPradesh में योगी जी है। pic.twitter.com/rgScXX9Z6V
— Sujeet Swami️ (@shibbu87) May 19, 2025
Ongoing Operations and Recent Demolitions
The demolition drive, which began in April, continued into mid-May. On May 11, demolitions took place at two locations in Maharajganj’s Semrahni and Jugouli villages, one madrasa in Shravasti’s Bhinga tehsil, and a mazar on forest land in Bahraich.
Between April 25 and 27, authorities demolished 89 illegal structures, including madrasas, mosques, mazars, and eidgahs, across the border districts. Earlier in April 2025, 17 madrasas were sealed during a similar phase of the campaign.
Recent demolitions include the razing of a mosque built on government land in Siddharthnagar’s Mohana area. In Bhojpur Billi village of Shravasti, a madrasa operating on land belonging to a primary school was demolished. In Bahraich, an unauthorised religious structure was removed from forest department land. Furthermore, in Balrampur’s Tulsipur tehsil, a madrasa under construction on public land was also brought down.
These demolitions were not carried out abruptly. Officials confirmed that legal procedures were followed prior to the drive. For the remaining cases, legal proceedings are currently underway. Multiple notices were issued under Section 67 of the Revenue Code. The entire campaign is being closely monitored at the state level.
Government records indicate that many of the demolished madrasas were operating without approval from the education department. Similarly, the other structures lacked permission from the local Waqf Boards. The state government has emphasised that no religious encroachment will be tolerated, particularly in the sensitive areas along the Nepal border.
