MEERUT, Sept. 6 -- A mosque inside the Saharanpur collectorate complex was demolished by the district administration early Saturday morning, days after a district judge's court upheld an earlier order declaring the structure illegal, officials said. The demolition was carried out amid tight security, with all five gates of the collectorate sealed and a heavy security contingent, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), deployed to maintain law and order, they added. Saharanpur DIG Abhishek Singh said the city magistrate's court had found that the structure at the Saharanpur collectorate was illegally constructed on government land. "The Mosque Committee's appeal was subsequently dismissed, paving the way for the demolition. Authorities had taken all preventive measures to maintain law and order and were strictly following established legal procedures," the DIG said. JCB machines, dumpers and other demolition equipment were brought inside the collectorate premises during the night. Senior police and administrative officials remained at the site as the administration began removing the mosque structure early Saturday morning. The entire collectorate complex was placed under heightened security before the operation. No outsiders were allowed inside, while police deployment was increased in surrounding areas and additional personnel were brought in from other districts, officials said. The action followed a September 2 order of the district judge's court, which upheld the earlier decision of the city magistrate's court concerning the mosque. The dispute dates back to a complaint filed by Vikas Tyagi, former provincial convenor of the Bajrang Dal. Following the complaint, a petition under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act was filed before the city magistrate's court on March 24, 2025. On July 16, 2026, the city magistrate's court declared the mosque illegal and imposed a penalty of Rs.6.41 crore. The mosque side challenged the order before the district judge's court on July 20, 2026. The case was heard on 17 dates before the court before the matter was decided on September 2. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party MP from Kairana Iqra Hasan alleged that she was placed under house arrest at her residence before she could travel to Saharanpur. In a post on X, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also flayed the government over the alleged house arrest of MP Iqra Hasan. "Maintaining communal harmony was the government's greatest responsibility as well as its achievement," he said. The Opposition parties criticised the government over the bulldozer action on Saturday. SP president Akhilesh Yadav questioned the timing and manner of the demolition, asking why the matter was not allowed to proceed to the high court or Supreme Court. He alleged that the action was given a communal colour to divert attention from alleged irregularities involving funds related to the Ram temple in Ayodhya. BSP supremo Mayawati criticised what she described as the government's campaign of declaring mosques illegal and demolishing them in haste. She urged the state government to immediately stop such actions and explore alternative means of resolving disputes. Meanwhile, UP Congress president Ajay Rai also took to X, terming the mosque demolition "heartbreaking and shameful."...