Sambhal, Jan. 4 -- In an unusual development, villagers in Sambhal district dismantled a mosque on their own, hours before a scheduled demolition by the local administration. By the time officials arrived with bulldozers on Sunday morning, the structure had already been reduced to rubble.
According to officials, the mosque stood on 1,339 square metres (around 1.5 bighas) of government land earmarked for the poor, in Salempur Salar alias Hajipur village under the Ainchoda Kamboh police station area. Villagers reportedly worked through the night using hammers and chisels to demolish the structure.
Tehsildar Dhirendra Pratap Singh said the administration had issued notices and completed all legal formalities well in advance. "It appears that...