Protests erupt in India after mosque demolished in Maharashtra under encroachment drive

In a controversial move, Indian authorities in the state of Maharashtra partially demolished a 25-year-old mosque, sparking protests and outrage among the local Muslim community.

The action was taken under the pretext of illegal encroachments, despite claims by the mosque committee that all legal documents for the construction were in place.

Tensions flared in Dharavi on Saturday morning as hundreds of residents took to the streets, blocking traffic, to protest the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) move to demolish Mehboob E Subhani mosque.

The Subhaniya Mosque, located in Mumbai, was targeted by municipal officials who arrived with heavy machinery to demolish part of the structure without issuing any prior notice. The sudden action led to widespread tension in the area as large crowds gathered to protest, chanting slogans against the administration.

The situation lasted for over two hours, but it eventually subsided after BMC officials agreed to temporarily suspend the demolition.

Members of the mosque committee and the Imam reportedly offered to provide all necessary documentation proving the legality of the mosque’s construction, but their pleas went unheard. The partial demolition has sent shockwaves through the local Muslim population, with many expressing deep frustration and anger.

Heavy police presence was deployed in the area as a precautionary measure to prevent further escalation. Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad had earlier met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who assured her that the demolition would be halted. "I had a positive conversation with the chief minister, who assured that the demolition would be stopped," Varsha Gaikwad said.

However, despite the Chief Minister’s intervention, municipal officials warned that they would return in eight days to continue the demolition.

The incident has reignited concerns over religious intolerance and the perceived targeting of Muslim communities under the current government’s policies, further intensifying the ongoing communal tensions in India.

A report, by Amnesty International, shows that between April and June 2022 alone, 128 structures, mostly owned by Muslims, were demolished. Notable recent incidents include the demolition of a mosque in Delhi, a madrasa in Uttarakhand, and several Muslim homes in Assam. In 2021, a 100-year-old mosque was demolished in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki district, while in 2023, a 16th-century mosque was razed in Prayagraj city, also in Uttar Pradesh, under a road widening project.

While the demolitions have been carried out under the pretext of removing illegal constructions, critics argue that Muslim-owned properties are being disproportionately targeted in the process. Amnesty International has highlighted these actions as part of a larger pattern of discrimination against the Muslim community in India.