The demolition of a mosque located inside the Saharanpur Collectorate complex in Uttar Pradesh began early Saturday after a District Judge’s court upheld an order declaring the structure illegal. The mosque was built on government land, according to authorities. Heavy security was deployed across the Collectorate as the administration carried out the demolition.

All five gates of the Collectorate were sealed before the operation. Outsiders were not allowed to enter the premises. The administration also deployed the Rapid Action Force (RAF), along with local police and additional personnel brought in from other districts. Senior police and administrative officials remained at the site as the demolition continued.

JCB machines, dumpers and other equipment were moved into the Collectorate premises during the night. The administration started removing the mosque structure early Saturday morning. Police presence was also increased in areas surrounding the Collectorate to prevent any law-and-order situation.

Saharanpur Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Abhishek Singh said the City Magistrate’s court had earlier found that the mosque was illegally constructed on government land. He said the Mosque Committee challenged the decision, but the District Judge’s court dismissed the appeal. Singh said authorities had taken all necessary preventive measures to maintain law and order and follow the legal process.

Security arrangements were tightened across the Collectorate before the demolition began. Police personnel from other districts were brought in to support the local force. RAF personnel were also deployed in view of the sensitivity of the matter. The five gates remained closed during the operation, restricting movement in and out of the complex.

The police administration and the Local Intelligence Unit had already assessed the situation across Saharanpur. Officials carried out intelligence gathering and reviewed the law-and-order situation before the demolition. Police movement around the Collectorate increased from Friday evening as preparations for the action continued.

The demolition followed a September 2 order passed by the District Judge’s court. The court upheld the earlier decision of the City Magistrate’s court, which had declared the mosque illegal.

The dispute began with a complaint filed by Vikas Tyagi, a former provincial convenor of the Bajrang Dal. Following the complaint, proceedings were initiated under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act before the City Magistrate’s court on March 24, 2025.

On July 16, 2026, the City Magistrate’s court declared the mosque illegal and imposed a penalty of ₹6.41 crore. The mosque committee challenged the decision before the District Judge’s court on July 20, 2026.

The matter was heard on 17 dates before the District Judge’s court. On September 2, the court dismissed the petition filed by the mosque side and upheld the City Magistrate’s order. The verdict cleared the way for the administration to proceed with the demolition.

Authorities stepped up security after the court ruling. Police personnel were deployed at the Collectorate and in nearby areas. Additional forces arrived from other districts. Senior administrative and police officials monitored the situation at the site. Officials also maintained surveillance in the surrounding areas based on intelligence inputs and their assessment of the situation.

Meanwhile, Kairana Lok Sabha MP Iqra Hasan was reportedly placed under house arrest at her residence before she could travel to Saharanpur. Hasan said a large police force reached her Kairana residence as she was preparing to leave for Saharanpur.

The MP said she wanted to visit Saharanpur to meet government officials over the demolition and raise the concerns of people in the area.

“To prevent me from going to Saharanpur last night, a large police force was deployed at my Kairana residence, and I was placed under house arrest,” Hasan said.

Hasan represents the Kairana Lok Sabha constituency, which includes Saharanpur district. Questioning the action against her, the 32-year-old MP asked whether an elected representative could be stopped from meeting government officials over issues affecting people in her constituency.

“In a democracy, public representatives are elected to raise the voice of the people. That voice cannot be suppressed by stopping me,” she said.

The Samajwadi Party alleged that the Yogi Adityanath government stopped Hasan from travelling to Saharanpur to prevent her from raising the issue of the mosque demolition. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav also reacted to the situation on Saturday.

In a social media post, Yadav said maintaining communal harmony was the government’s biggest responsibility and achievement.

“Maintaining harmony is the government’s greatest responsibility and also its achievement,” Yadav tweeted.

The reported house arrest of Hasan came as authorities continued to maintain heavy security around the Saharanpur Collectorate. The administration restricted movement inside the complex while the demolition operation was underway.

The demolition ruling was issued after more than a year of legal proceedings. The complaint was first lodged in 2025 and moved through the City Magistrate’s court before reaching the District Judge’s court. After the District Judge upheld the City Magistrate’s decision on September 2, the administration began removing the structure on Saturday under tight security.