SAMBHAL — The Sambhal district administration on Monday issued notices to 12 shop owners giving them a 24-hour deadline to remove the structures or their shops will be demolished.
The shops are allegedly built on encroached government land near a mosque – known as Thanewali Masjid as it is located in front of the Kotwali police station — in Sambhal city.
As per the officials, the “illegal shops” have to be removed so that a “road widening” project can go ahead, reported The Times of India.
Sambhal sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Vandana Mishra said, “The mosque committee, which has been collecting rent from these shops for years, claims the structures were built on Waqf land and has sought time to present relevant documents as they have to be brought in from Lucknow.”
The ultimatum followed the discovery of an “ancient” stepwel near the Kotwali Police Station.
SDM held a meeting at the Sambhal Kotwali premises, during which notices were handed to shopkeepers instructing them to remove the shops themselves within 24 hours.
During the meeting with shop owners on Sunday, the SDM underscored the significance of preserving the site, stating that preliminary investigations revealed the shops had encroached on public roads, narrowing the area.
“The shopkeepers were given 24 hours to file their reply, but they have yet to provide the required documents. We will initiate a proper action after the notice period is over,” said Mishra.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.
