Row erupts as madrasa demolished in Assam following nationalist campaign
text_fields
Jorhat: The district administration of Jorhat on Tuesday demolished a madrasa along with the boundary wall of an adjacent mosque following allegations from the Assamese nationalist organisation Bir Lachit Sena that the structures were built illegally.
The demolition was conducted under tight police security to prevent any law-and-order disturbances, officials said.
Bir Lachit Sena, a regional outfit known for its aggressive anti-immigration stance, claimed that the religious buildings were encroaching on public land.
While the administration has not yet released official records to confirm the alleged encroachment, a senior official described the action as part of a “routine drive” to remove unauthorised constructions.
The Bir Lachit Sena hailed the demolition as a “victory for indigenous rights” and indicated intentions to pursue similar actions elsewhere in Assam. However, critics cautioned that such measures risk deepening anti-Muslim sentiment in the region.
Members of the local community expressed outrage, highlighting that the madrasa had served as an important educational centre for local children for many years.
“They also claimed that it is an attempt to erase a part of their identity,” said one resident.
