LUCKNOW/GORAKHPUR, April 26 -- An illegal madrasa belonging to Shamsul Huda Khan, a UK-based cleric originally from eastern Uttar Pradesh, was demolished by the administration in Uttar Pradesh's Sant Kabir Nagar district on Sunday. Officials stated that the structure had been built over 640 square metres in Motinagar locality of Khalilabad.

The action followed a demolition order issued by the Basti divisional commissioner, and was carried out by 10 teams in the presence of police and administrative authorities.

Authorities said the demolition began around 10 am, using six bulldozers to bring down the three-storey structure, which had 25 rooms and was estimated to have been constructed at a cost of nearly Rs.5 crore.

The operation was c...