In Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district, a mosque in Rayee Buzurg village was demolished on Thursday, October 2, 2025, by authorities who claimed it was illegally constructed on government pond land. This is the second such demolition in the area within the past four months. Alongside the mosque, a marriage hall was also razed.

The demolition was carried out amidst tight security, with the area effectively transformed into a police cantonment. Hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed to maintain order, while senior officials, including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and City Magistrate, supervised the operation. To further ensure security, drones monitored sensitive areas, and intelligence agencies were placed on high alert to prevent any potential escalation. Authorities had advised villagers to remain indoors during the demolition.

According to officials, the Revenue Department had previously inspected the site and issued a notice declaring the mosque an encroachment. Notices under section 67 of the UP Land Revenue Code were issued on September 2, giving the owners 30 days to remove the structures. The district administration stated that the action was part of a larger campaign against illegal constructions and appealed to the local community to maintain peace.

However, local villagers dispute the claim that the mosque was illegal, stating that it was built nearly a decade ago. According to the local administration, the marriage hall, along with a mosque and a madrassa, were constructed on "gram sabha and pond land". Land Revenue Officer Dharmendra Kumar stated that the demolition was due to "encroachment on a pond and reserved land" and that "the court had passed an eviction order".

Sambhal Superintendent of Police (SP) K. K. Bishnoi said that the construction was done illegally. He also noted that notices had been issued to the mosque committee a month prior, but they "took no cognisance".

While the marriage hall was demolished using bulldozers under heavy police presence, the mosque committee requested four days to clear the encroachment themselves. Officials confirmed that the committee had begun the process. Yaseen, a member of the mosque committee, confirmed that an agreement was reached with the administration to vacate the land within four days and that they had started dismantling the mosque themselves.

SDM Vikas Chandra said that a demolition order was issued, and the mosque committee requested four days, which was granted.

This demolition follows another similar incident in June, where the Raza-e-Mustafa Masjid in Chandausi was razed along with 34 houses, also allegedly built on municipal land.

District Magistrate (DM) of Sambhal, Rajinder Pensiya, stated that all demolitions of illegal structures are being carried out peacefully and with the cooperation of local committees. He added that the administration has identified and demolished dozens of "unauthorised" constructions following violence that broke out on November 24, 2024, during a court-ordered Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) inspection of the Shahi Jama Masjid, which is a protected site, after claims that it was built over the remains of a Hindu temple.

The demolition has prompted heightened security measures in nearby districts. Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit, and Badaun have been placed on high alert following protests and a police crackdown in Bareilly's Kotwali area the previous week over "I Love Muhammad" posters. Over 81 people have been arrested in connection with the clashes, and security has been further tightened with increased police, PAC, and RAF forces, along with drone monitoring and intelligence agency vigilance.