Jaisalmer: The Jaisalmer district administration Thursday carried out a major anti-encroachment drive in areas close to the Indo-Pak border, demolishing six mosque structures along with attached madrassa buildings in Nachna, Tanot and Shahgarh.The action followed a July 13 order of the principal seat of the Rajasthan High Court in Jodhpur, which dismissed petitions challenging eviction and show-cause notices issued to religious institutions located within 50 km of the international border. The court held that national security is paramount and must prevail.Officials said the demolition drive was conducted under heavy security, with senior district officers, police personnel and security agencies deployed at all sites. The administration said the operation was completed peacefully without any law-and-order issues.Official sources described the action as part of the resumption of a long-pending campaign against alleged illegal religious constructions and encroachments on govt land in Rajasthan’s border districts. They said removals began Wednesday evening, as the petitions were dismissed.Under ‘Operation Clean’, officials said a mosque structure allegedly built on govt land was demolished at Mirpura in the Ghotaru area, about 20 km from the India-Pakistan border, clearing nearly two bighas of land. The administration said the land had been earmarked for Pong Dam displaced families and was allegedly encroached upon through a boundary wall and permanent construction.Authorities said a hall, bathrooms and other structures were removed using bulldozers in the presence of the sub-divisional magistrate, tehsildar and other revenue officials. Similar action was also reported in the Dhanana area over alleged illegal occupation of govt land.Sources said additional mosque structures were demolished in Hindolon Ki Dhani, 6-9 Chak KRM and Ahmadpura (1 DKWM) under Dhakalwala Gram Panchayat in the Nachna Panchayat Samiti area, with earth-moving machines used in the presence of senior officials.Police personnel from Ramgarh, Tanot and Shahgarh police stations, along with reserve forces, were deployed throughout the operation, while intelligence and security agencies monitored the drive due to the sensitive border location.District authorities said illegal constructions on govt or restricted land, particularly within 50 km of the international border, would not be permitted and that the anti-encroachment campaign would continue in the coming weeks.
