Unauthorised madarasa razed to ground by the Administration in Pawangad (Kolhapur)

Madarasa was built in 1979

Kolhapur – The unauthorised madarasa at Pawangad, which is adjacent to the Panhalgad in Panhala taluka of Kolhapur District, was razed to the ground by the Administration. The Administration started this operation at 2 am midnight on 5th January and completed by 10 am on 6th January. The Administration had maintained utmost secrecy about this operation and 400 Policemen had been deployed at the site. In this regard, the Bajrang Dal submitted a complaint to the District Administration.

Pawangad was built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. In the year 1979, a religious fanatic built this illegal madarasa here. Till recently, 45 Muslim children from West Bengal and Bihar were getting an education at this place. On 4th January, all the children were taken to another madarasa in Shiroli. Later this action was taken. This madarasa was built in an area of two gunthas. At present section 144 has been imposed on the fort and the work of clearing debris is going on. Visiting the fort is not allowed currently.

Various devout Hindu organisations have expressed satisfaction about this action and have demanded that ‘The encroachments in Kolhapur city and other forts in the District be also removed immediately’. Kolhapur District coordinator of Bajrang Dal Mr Suresh Rokade said, “Bajrang Dal had complained to the Administration twice and followed up on this matter. Hence, the Administration took this action. We had complained that there is an illegal madarasa on this fort and students from outside Maharashtra are studying there. Some structures have been built by destroying the original historic structures. Therefore, we demanded that this encroachment be removed immediately.”

Congratulations on taking this action at Pawangad ! Similar action should be taken soon at Vishalgad ! – Mr Sunil Ghanwat, Coordinator, Maharashtra Gad-Durg Rakshan Samiti

Congratulations to the Administration for removing the encroachment on Pawangad. The Administration has also removed encroachments at Pratapgad and Sangramgad earlier. Recently the encroachment at Mahimgad has also been removed. There are still encroachments on 30-35 forts across Maharashtra and the process of removing these encroachments is expected to be speedy. Primarily, there is no concrete action regarding removing encroachment on Vishalgad. The encroachment there was not removed due to the monsoon, but later due to court proceedings. However, the Government should appoint a good advocate in the High Court and take the necessary actions immediately concerning the removal of encroachments at Vishalgad.

Editorial Perspectives

Congratulations to the Government for this action ! The fort enthusiasts expect that the illegal constructions and encroachments on all the forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj be razed to the ground similarly.