Lucknow/ Bahraich/ Lakhimpur Kheri/ Gorakhpur, April 29 -- The Uttar Pradesh government has started action against unrecognised madrasas, mosques and allegedly illegal structures constructed on government land in districts along the India-Nepal border. The district administration razed illegal structures to reclaim government land while the unrecognised madrasas have been closed. The drive was launched in border districts, including Bahraich, Lakhimpur Kheri, Balarampur, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar and Maharajganj, on April 25. Making a strong push for reforms in Uttar Pradesh's madrasa education system, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on April 25 had highlighted the need for strict compliance with infrastructural standards before granting official recognition to any madrasa in the state. He had also proposed forming a committee to recommend necessary reforms for the smooth functioning of madrasas, job security for teachers, and a better future for the students. In November 2024, the Supreme Court directed the state governments that no demolition should be carried out without a prior 15-day notice to the owner of a property and without following the statutory guidelines. A state government officer said a drive has been launched to free the 0-10 km area along the India-Nepal border from encroachment and operation of unrecognized madarsas. The 700-km border passes through seven U.P. districts -- Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar, Balrampur, Shravasti, Bahraich, Lakhimpur Kheri and Pilibhit. Citizens of both the countries move freely across the open India-Nepal border. The security in the border areas is monitored by Sashashtra Seema Bal (SSB) and district police, he said. "The state government has made it clear that illegal occupation and unrecognised religious or educational institutions within a 10-km of the Nepal border will not be tolerated. The administration has been directed to remove identified encroachments promptly and ensure continuous monitoring in the area. The administration has implemented the court order while carrying out a demolition drive against illegal structures," he said. The campaign reflects the government's commitment to securing the India-Nepal border and curbing unauthorised activities, the officer said. The operation is backed by comprehensive checks and notices, aiming to reclaim government land and ensure compliance with legal standards for religious institutions, the officer said. The drive will continue until all illegal encroachments and unrecognised setups are addressed, he said. Minister of state for minority welfare, Muslim waqf and Haj Danish Azad Ansari said, "The Yogi government is working fully to ensure that the youth of our country get a good education. Madrasa is an extremely important institution for the education of poor Muslims. We can provide a good education system there and we can develop modern education along with Islam. Our government is working on this. There are certain standards of education. We continuously order that our respective madrasas should follow these standards. If anyone does not follow these standards, then we will definitely take appropriate action against him." In Bahraich, district minority welfare officer Sanjay Mishra said three madrasas in the 0-10 km zone of the India-Nepal border were shut down due to lack of recognition papers and land ownership documents. The authorities in Maharajganj and Siddharthnagar districts demolished two mazars (mausoleums) and a mosque in the Shohratgarh tehsil of Siddharthnagar. Demolition actions were also undertaken at an Eidgah and another mazar in Jhulnipur village of Maharajganj on Monday....