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Akhoondji Masjid Demolished: Local people have accused Delhi Development Authority (DDA) officials of snatching their phones, taking them away from the site and cordoning off the area over the demolition of Akhoondji Masjid and Behrul Uloom Madrasa. In this regard, the Imam of the mosque said that he was given only 10 minutes to remove the items before demolition.
“We were given barely ten minutes to collect our belongings before the machines arrived and the demolition began,” said Hussain, who has been the mosque’s imam for the past one-and-a-half years.
‘Debris removed immediately’
He alleged that the officers had snatched his phone and taken him away from the site and cordoned him off there. Also, CISF personnel were deployed around the mosque. Hussain told The Indian Express that the demolition debris was immediately collected and disposed of. Meanwhile, local resident Shamstabrez Khan alleged that the authorities did not even spare the cemetery and the graves present there were also desecrated.
‘Children were asked to pack their things and leave’
In the early hours of Tuesday (January 30), when Imam Zakir Hussain was getting ready for morning prayers, the police knocked at the Mehrauli Mosque. During this time, the children living and studying in the Madrasa running on the campus were asked to pack their belongings and leave.
The mosque was 600-700 years old
After this DDA demolished Akhundji Mosque and Behrul Uloom Madrasa. Local people claim that the mosque was built during the reign of Razia Sultan. This building was approximately 600-700 years old. Although the complex included a mosque, madrasa and graveyard, it was not a notified heritage building.
‘Parents informed after demolition’
Kashmir resident Mohammad Sohail Sheikh said that the parents of the children living in the madrassa were informed about this only after the demolition. He told that his son used to study in Madrasa only. He reached Delhi from Kashmir on Wednesday (January 31) to meet his son, but when he reached here, the madrassa was missing and there was heavy police deployment where he was standing.
DDA said- followed proper procedures
On these allegations, DDA officials argued that the structure was in Sanjay Forest. As per the decision of the Ridge Management Board, the ridge area should be free from all types of illegal encroachment. “The approval for removal of illegal structures of religious nature was given by the religious committee,” the DDA said. “We have followed all due procedures,” a DDA official said, adding that the mosque authorities were not aware of the matter in advance.
