Uttarakhand waqf board says demolished Doon mazaar was authentic, seeks probe

Dehradun: Uttarakhand waqf board and Muslim social organisations have claimed that the mazaar demolished at Government Doon Medical College and Hospital on Friday night was an authentic shrine backed by official records, and demanded an inquiry into the action. The shrine was demolished under heavy police presence, after a complaint was filed against the structure on the CM helpline. Officials claimed that an investigation had found no official records or land revenue documents relating to the site, following which the demolition was carried out. Authorities also denied the presence of a grave at the location. However, waqf board officials and members of Muslim Seva Sangathan (MSS) disputed these claims. MSS president Naeem Qureshi said, "The waqf board has all the relevant documents. Why weren't they asked to show them?" He said that land records from the time when the state was part of UP were available, along with a Gazette notification from the 1900s supporting the existence of the shrine. Community members said the mazaar was over 150 years old. A senior member of the waqf board said, "A century or so ago, tongas plied on these roads. There was even a tonga stop at the site. This was then the dargah of Baba Kamaal Khan, whose brother Baba Jamaal Khan's shrine is located at the nearby Rangers ground." He added that authorities demolished the structure above ground and claimed no grave was found, but only a shallow search was conducted. "Over the years, there have been layers of construction and road paving. The shrine would today be much below. The whole operation was done hastily without thorough research. While the administration claims it sent a notice, the caretaker has denied receiving one," he said. Following the demolition, representatives of the waqf board met the chief minister to present their concerns. Shadab Shams, chairperson of the board, said, "We have highlighted our concerns and told the CM that the board has all necessary documents relevant to the dargah. We have been assured of a probe into the mishandling of the situation." Community members have demanded that a symbol be installed at the site to mark the historic significance of the shrine. When contacted by TOI, the city magistrate did not respond to queries regarding the waqf board's claims. Other social organisations in the capital also expressed their displeasure over the incident. Kamla Pant from Uttarakhand Mahila Manch said, "Mazaars are shrines of Sufi saints who preached messages of love and unity beyond religious lines through art and music. Such symbols of communal harmony should be preserved, not erased, especially because of their historical significance. For families of patients at Doon hospital, this mazaar — older than the hospital itself — has also been a symbol of hope for decades. It could have been relocated elsewhere through open dialogue and communication, rather than being destroyed in the cover of night." Activists added that a memorandum condemning the incident would be handed over to the Governor on Monday. Meanwhile, opposition leaders criticised the govt for the demolition. Surya Kant Dhasmana, vice president of Uttarakhand Congress, said, "If any structure is illegal, it should be removed. But is the govt's agenda only to take action against mazaars and madrassas? They are using any excuse to create hatred and communal divide amongst the masses. Uttarakhand waqf board, which was running the shrine since the state formation and UP waqf board before then, should have been asked about whether the mazaar was illegal or not."