Illegal mosque razing sparks row in UP's Saharanpur, SP MP put under house arrest - The Times of India

**Illegal Mosque Razed in Saharanpur; Samajwadi Party MP Says She Was Confined to Her Home**

Saharanpur’s district collectorate complex became the scene of a controversial demolition on the night of April 23, when officials razed a small mosque that the administration said had been erected on government land without permission. According to the Uttar Pradesh administration, the structure was an illegal encroachment on a vacant parcel that is slated for future civic projects. Security forces were deployed around the collectorate to prevent any disturbance, and the demolition was completed before dawn, leaving the prayer hall in ruins and sparking immediate outrage among local residents.

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Iqra Hasan, who arrived in the city the following morning for a planned visit to the site, alleged that she was placed under house arrest by the authorities before she could assess the situation. Hasan claimed that police barred her from entering the collectorate premises and that she was confined to her residence under the watch of armed personnel, a move she described as “political intimidation.” The SP has condemned the operation as an affront to the religious sentiments of the Muslim community, demanding an inquiry into both the demolition and the alleged restriction of the MP’s movements.

The incident has escalated into a legal and political showdown. SP leader Imran Masood announced that the party will file a petition with the Supreme Court, seeking a stay on the demolition and compensation for the loss of the place of worship. The state government, meanwhile, has defended its actions, stating that the demolition complied with existing land‑use regulations and that proper notices had been issued to the occupants. As tensions simmer, civil‑society groups have called for a balanced approach that respects both the rule of law and the religious rights of the community.