Madrassa built on govt land demolished in Sant Kabir Nagar amid tight security

Lucknow: A madrassa built on purportedly encroached govt land and linked to UK-based cleric Shamsul Huda Khan in Sant Kabir Nagar district was demolished on Sunday. The operation began around 10 am and continued through the day under tight security, with multiple bulldozers razing the structure.

Officials said at least six bulldozers were deployed initially to bring down the outer boundary walls of the three-storey madrassa structure. Later, additional heavy machinery was brought in to accelerate the demolition of reinforced pillars.

Around 100 police personnel, including 30 women constables, were deployed at the site to maintain law and order, while two companies of PAC were also stationed as a precautionary measure.

By late afternoon, only a few pillars had been demolished, with officials indicating that over 45 pillars remained, highlighting the scale and structural strength of the building.

According to district administration, the madrassa was constructed eight years ago on 640 square metres (around 7,000 square feet) of govt land in Khalilabad tehsil. The three-storey structure reportedly comprised 25 rooms and was built at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore.

District administration alleged the construction was financed through foreign funding, raising further concerns about regulatory violations. The madrassa has remained closed since 2024, though it previously accommodated nearly 400 students.

Alleged operator of the madrassa, Shamsul Huda Khan, is a British citizen and lives there, while his wife, Saklain Khatoon, son Tausif Raza and daughter-in-law Nasreen live in Khalilabad. Khan left India in 2017 but allegedly continued to draw salary from a madrassa in Azamgarh for a decade. The matter came to light about five months ago, leading to suspension of four officials from minority welfare department.

In 2024, a local filed complaint before the SDM, alleging illegal construction and in Nov 2025, SDM court ordered demolition and granted 15 days for compliance.

The madrassa management challenged the order before the district magistrate, but the plea was rejected. A subsequent appeal to divisional commissioner was dismissed on Apr 25, upholding the SDM’s order. Administration issued a final notice before initiating the demolition.

Members of the madrasa management have claimed that the administration did not provide sufficient time to remove essential items from the premises before beginning the demolition. Officials, however, maintain that due legal procedures and notices were followed.

Investigations by the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) allegedly uncovered alleged links between Khan and individuals in Pakistan, along with suspected connections to separatist elements in Jammu and Kashmir. He is also accused of running activities under the banner of “Dawate Islam,” allegedly using foreign funds while concealing their sources.

Officials further stated that Khan had been operating a girls’ madrasa and hostel in the region, which had earlier been sealed by the administration amid similar concerns.

The demolition operation was still underway at the time of filing this report, with authorities continuing efforts to dismantle the remaining structure. The heavy deployment of police forces reflects the administration’s intent to prevent any untoward incidents during the high-profile action.