Surat: Authorities today initiated action on government land in Sayan village, deploying a bulldozer to demolish a compound and a chicken shop cabin allegedly constructed illegally by the Jumma Masjid Trust. This action follows a land survey that identified unauthorized occupation on the property. However, the Masjid Trust has lodged an objection, asserting their ownership of the land.

The government land, identified as block number 606 and situated adjacent to the village graveyard in Sayan, was reportedly used as ‘khari’ (grazing land) by local farmers for many years. After the farmers ceased using the land, the Jumma Masjid Trust allegedly took possession and developed it into a compound. Additionally, a chicken shop cabin had been erected on the same land by a Muslim individual. The matter was brought to the attention of the government administration following an order from the District Collector.

On April 19, 2025, the District Land Records (DLR) office conducted a government survey of the land, which reportedly confirmed the presence of unauthorized structures. Subsequently, last Saturday, the in-charge Sarpanch Shailesh Patel, Talati Bharat Chaudhary, and Allpad Taluka Panchayat (TP) members Dipesh Patel and Hemu Pathak, along with Muslim community leaders from the village, visited the site with the land measurement sheet. They informed the Masjid Trust leader about the alleged encroachment. Despite this, the trust maintained its claim of ownership over the disputed land.

Finally, on Monday morning, the Circle Officer from the Allpad Mamlatdar office, accompanied by the in-charge Sarpanch, two TP members, and a police convoy, arrived at the location with a bulldozer. The bulldozer proceeded to demolish the compound and the chicken shop cabin. Authorities also cleared the soil on the land.

In response, the Masjid Trust reportedly attempted to approach various government offices, including the Collectorate, on Monday afternoon. Trust leaders visited the Gram Panchayat office, reiterating their claim of ownership over the land. The trust has accused the authorities of acting without proper basis, arguing that the Jumma Masjid Trust has been managing the land for years, rendering the claims of encroachment baseless. They further alleged that the survey numbers around the land might have been measured without informing the trustees or the alleged landowners, which they deemed unacceptable. The trust demanded a fresh measurement in their presence, assuring that they would voluntarily remove any encroachment if found.