A mazar located within the premises of the prestigious Doon School in Dehradun was demolished following protests by right-wing Hindu groups.
The shrine stood on the grounds of The Doon School, a renowned British-era private boarding institution for boys, known for its notable alumni, including former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, his son Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and authors Amitav Ghosh and Vikram Seth.
Videos circulating on social media show a group of four to five men using pickaxes and hammers to dismantle the structure. The incident, which occurred a few days ago, was confirmed by Dehradun District Magistrate Savin Bansal on Friday.
“We did not issue any orders for its demolition,” Bansal stated, adding that a team, including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), was dispatched to verify the situation and ensure law and order. He has requested a detailed report on the incident.
Swami Darshan Bharti, leader of the Hindu outfit Uttarakhand Raksha Abhiyan, welcomed the demolition. “Why should there be a *mazar* inside a prestigious school like The Doon School? It reflects the growing issue of land jihad in the state,” Bharti remarked. He also mentioned meeting Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to request the removal of the structure.
Sources indicate that the *mazar* was old and had recently been renovated by the school authorities.
The Uttarakhand Waqf Board has claimed historical ownership of the land where the *mazar* stood. “As per our records, 57 acres in that area once belonged to us, but its current status is unclear,” a Waqf Board official stated.
Waqf Board Chairman Shadab Shams confirmed awareness of the demolition but said that only a thorough investigation could determine whether the land still belongs to the Waqf Board.
This incident follows the Uttarakhand government’s ongoing drive against illegal encroachments, launched in 2022. So far, encroachments on 5,000 acres of government land have been cleared, according to officials.