Gurdaspur, Punjab: Reports of an alleged mosque demolition in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district stirred concerns on Saturday. However, authorities, including the Waqf Board and police, refuted the claims, clarifying that no mosque was demolished. They stated that local residents had only cleared debris, including dead animals, from an old, deteriorating structure.
Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, took to social media platform X, accusing the AAP government of allowing the demolition of a mosque in Kahnuwan, Gurdaspur, during Ramazan. He called it an “assault on religious freedom” and criticized AAP’s alleged exploitation of minorities for votes.
Gurdaspur SSP Aditya confirmed that police and Waqf officials inspected the site and found no mosque. Instead, they identified an old structure on Takia land, where garbage and dead animals had accumulated. Locals had cleaned the area, removing syringes, a dead dog, and other debris.
Kahnuwan village sarpanch, Satnam Singh, emphasized that the site was not a mosque but a collapsed structure near a ‘Peer Baba’ shrine. He attributed the rumors to misinformation spread by mischievous elements.
Manpreet Singh, Waqf Board law officer, affirmed that there was no identifiable religious building at the site. He explained that locals took the initiative to clean the area to ensure hygiene and safety for their children.
This incident highlights the sensitivity surrounding religious sites and the importance of verifying facts before making allegations.
