Rudrapur, March 16 -- Muslim clerics in Rudrapur have sought permission to offer Eid namaz at the old Eidgah in Khera Colony, but the Rudrapur Municipal Corporation (RMC) has declined the request, stating that the encroached land is now under its possession. RMC Mayor Vikas Sharma, however, said the civic body will look for an alternative venue for the community to offer Eid namaz. RMC took possession of around eight acres of the 10-acre land from the Eidgah and madrasa committee in December last year, following a 2018 Uttarakhand High Court order to vacate the land. Maulana Jahi Raza, former chairman of the Uttarakhand Hajj Committee, said the community had been offering Eid prayers at the old Eidgah site in Khera Colony for years. "We want to continue doing so on Eid. The 2.53-acre land currently allotted to the Eidgah committee can accommodate only around 1,000 people," he said. Officials said around 10.5 acres of government land in Khera Colony were previously under the illegal possession of the Eidgah and madrassa committee. On the committee's request, the state government allotted 2.53 acres to it in 2012. However, the committee continued to occupy the remaining land as well, officials added. When the administration and the civic body initiated action to vacate the land, some committee members approached the Uttarakhand High Court. After the court's decision in 2018, notices were issued to the committee to vacate the land. When the committee did not act on the notices, the administration and RMC removed the encroachment and took possession of about eight acres of land on December 7 last year. Since then, the committee has been offering namaz on the reclaimed land and has again sought permission from RMC to organise Eid prayers there. However, RMC officials have refused the request, citing the court order and the civic body's possession of the land. RMC mayor Vikas Sharma said permission cannot be granted as the land has already been reclaimed after the removal of encroachment. "If permission is granted, other communities may also demand to organise religious events on land where encroachments have been removed. However, we will try to identify an alternative venue for offering namaz with the help of the administration," he said. A delegation from the Muslim community met the mayor on Friday to seek permission to offer Eid prayers at the old Eidgah site. Maulana Raza said the community wants the issue to be resolved peacefully. "If 10,000-12,000 people gather for Eid prayers without proper arrangements, it may create a law-and-order situation. We want the administration and RMC to resolve the issue at the earliest," he said....