In Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh, over 180 families and a centuries-old mosque known as Noori Masjid have been served eviction notices by the Forest Department. This move has sparked widespread concern among residents who assert their ancestral ties to the region date back well before 1891, when the British laid railway lines nearby, reported the Clarion India.
The Forest Department has issued a stern warning, demanding responses within three days. If families fail to comply, the department has threatened forced evictions and bulldozer action.
In protest, hundreds of locals rallied against the decision, chanting slogans like “Down with DFO Katarniaghat,” and traveled in buses to the office of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) in Bahraich.
Community members claim they have been residing in the Bichhiya area for generations and possess documentary proof dating back more than a century. They revealed that over 114 individuals have already submitted claim forms to the Motipur tehsil office, where their verification is still under process.
A delegation of residents also submitted a memorandum of demands to Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Gaurav Ranjan Srivastava, seeking the withdrawal of eviction notices and recognition of their long-standing settlement.
Divisional Forest Officer B. Shiv Shankar confirmed the issuance of the notices under Section 61B of the Indian Forest Act. He stated, “Those who can present valid documents will not be removed,” stressing the importance of proof in such cases.
The conflict raises questions about land rights, historical settlements, and the treatment of religious and cultural sites under current land-use policies.
