Hindus stop UP forest dept team from demolishing 'mazar'

A team of the forest department had to return without demolishing a mazar' after Hindus stopped them from doing so in Uttar Pradesh's Mahoba district on Sunday.

"There are only five-six Muslim families in Salat village. The belief of the Hindus in the 150-year-old 'mazar' is more than the Muslims," Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Mahoba Ramji Rai said.

Rai said in this situation, it was not possible to demolish the Peer Baba 'mazar', which he said is located on forest department land.

The team went to the village on a complaint from the Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Charkhari, Brijbhushan Singh Rajput, the officer said.

"However, everyone was surprised at seeing the situation and the faith people have in the mazar," Rai said.

The DFO informed that during inspection, it was found that people from all sections of the society had donated to revamp the 'mazar'.

The officer has sought a report from the forest ranger about how old the 'mazar' was and the attachment of the people to it.