UP: Sambhal administration conducts anti-encroachment drive in Salempur

Sambhal (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 4 (ANI): The Sambhal district administration on Sunday conducted an anti-encroachment drive in the Salempur area.
Speaking to ANI, DM Rajendra Pensia said the encroachment occurred approximately 20-25 years ago, and commercial activities were also being carried out here in the name of the madrasa.
"Wherever there is encroachment, we had warned and made the encroachers aware earlier as well. After that, we are identifying everyone and filing cases against them under Section 67, and we are removing all the encroachments through the legal process...The encroachment was done approximately 20-25 years ago, and commercial activities were also being carried out here in the name of the madrasa. Many shops were built, and rent was also being collected from them...We have imposed a fine of fifty-eight lakh rupees, and we will also recover the cost of removal, which will be the entire cost incurred today," DM Pensia told ANI.
Sambhal Tehsildar Dhirendra Kumar said the land spans 1339 sq m. An eviction notice was served two months ago, but the land has not been evicted to date.
"This land spans 1339 sq m., where a madrassa was said to be made, whereas shops are set up here and commercial activities are being carried out. The rooms of the so-called 'madrassa' are all empty and there is no space for children to sit in there... Eviction notice was served 2 months ago and a fine of Rs 52 lakh was imposed, but the land was not evicted to date and action is being taken today... We request the district administration to make a hospital or school on this... This land has been occupied for 20 years...," Kumar told ANI.
Meanwhile, SP Krishna Kumar Bishnoi said, "The police recieved information that a masjid and madarsa have been illegally built on this land...We also served a notice and after following the due procedure, the district administration is carrying out an anti-encroachment drive on the madrasa...Proper security arrangements have been ensured...The cleared land has been allocated to 20 people from the SC community and they will be given houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana," Bishnoi said. (ANI)