Land encroachment in the name of religion has once again surfaced in Hyderabad’s booming western corridor. In Gopanpally, Serilingampally, Ranga Reddy district, locals allege that a group is attempting to seize 30 guntas of government land in Survey No.178 by illegally establishing a Muslim graveyard. Residents claim that non-existent graves are being marked on the site, located directly opposite the Sri Sri Veeranjaneya Swamy Devasthanam, in what they describe as a calculated bid to create permanent religious possession of prime state property.
The community first raised the alarm in December 2023, when a petition was filed with local revenue officials. In response, revenue staff had erected a notice board declaring the land as government property and warning trespassers of prosecution. Saplings were also planted on the plot to mark it as state-owned. Despite this, residents say the encroachment attempts continued unabated.
However, on 23 August 2025, a group of around 15 people allegedly arrived with a bulldozer, levelled the field, and destroyed the planted trees. Locals allege that the group has since gone further, demolishing GHMC-planted trees, putting up a boundary wall, and persisting with encroachment attempts. Despite repeated appeals, no response has reportedly come from the District Collector or revenue department officials.
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Days later, on 29 August, residents complained again to local officers, but claim that the encroachers returned at night, blocked internal roads, and erected a board designating the land as a Muslim graveyard.
On 8 September 2025, a fresh complaint was submitted to the district Collector, signed by residents of Bricks Skywoods, Honor Quantis, Pratima Estates, and members of the temple committee with request to protect the lands.
The locals are demanding immediate intervention by the Congress government in Telangana to act against the encroachments and safeguard state property. They allege a sinister design to occupy prime land under the guise of religion, warning that such unchecked activities threaten both governance and social harmony.
Several cases in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttarakhand Bharat have emerged where government lands have been occupied through the creation of fake Muslim graveyards or by fraudulently registering Waqf (Muslim endowment) trusts to claim such lands as cemeteries.
Several cases have emerged in India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand, where government land has been occupied by creating fake Muslim graveyards or by fraudulently registering Waqf (Muslim endowment) trusts to claim such land as cemeteries.
