Lucknow: Tension has surfaced in Uttar Pradesh’s Sonbhadra district following objections to the construction of a house for a poor Muslim woman under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The dispute erupted in the Obra area of Dudhi tehsil and led to police intervention to prevent escalation.
The issue began when construction started on a house approved under the central housing scheme on a vacant plot near the Deh Baba Temple in Obra industrial town. Members of the local tribal community protested, claiming the land belonged to the temple and remained under their customary use for rituals over many years. They also asserted rights over the land under the Forest Rights Act and termed the construction an illegal occupation.
Local residents presented a different account. They said the land in question stood recorded as inhabited land and accused protesters of exaggerating the issue. As the disagreement intensified, several Hindu organisations along with leaders linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party raised objections, adding to tension in the area.
The Muslim family involved said the plot did not belong to any temple. They stated the woman remained extremely poor and married in the Obra area. She received official approval for a house under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, after which construction began. Protests forced work to stop midway.
Police reached the site under the leadership of Vishnu Prabha Singh, in charge of the Obra Karma outpost. Officers detained people from both sides and issued challans against more than a dozen individuals on charges related to breach of peace and rioting. Members of Hindu organisations later gathered at the Obra police station, raising concerns among residents.
The Revenue Department said official records show the land registered in the name of a resident, with no lawful possession established. Officials said further action depends on the outcome of an investigation. Authorities have maintained vigil in the area, which remains calm.
