A mosque—almost 200 years old—near Raj Ghat in Varanasi was demolished in a tightly guarded overnight operation on Tuesday night as authorities cleared land for the redevelopment of Kashi railway station into a multi-modal transport hub. Local media was not allowed near the site despite locals getting agitated by the cloak by dagger operation.
The Statesman reported that the Ajgaib Shaheed Mosque, located near Rajghat and falling within the alignment of the railway expansion project, was brought down shortly after midnight amid extensive security arrangements. Officials claimed that the structure stood on railway land earmarked for the station’s modernisation and expansion.
A report in the Deccan Herald said that a Hanuman Temple, which was also built on the railway land, was removed.
This sudden and arbitrary demolition is linked to a major infrastructure project under which Kashi railway station is being transformed into an integrated transport hub with airport-like facilities. Estimated to cost between Rs 330 crore and Rs 400 crore, the project aims to connect rail, road, metro and water transport networks at a single location to improve passenger movement in the city.
According to officials, senior police and administrative officers reached the site late Tuesday night and supervised the operation, which was completed within a short span. Bulldozers and earth-moving equipment were deployed to bring down the structure and clear the debris.
Massive security cover for overnight operation
The administration had put in place elaborate security measures to prevent any law-and-order issues during the exercise.
Joint Commissioner of Police Shiv Hari Meena led the security arrangements, with several IPS officers, police personnel and paramilitary forces stationed in and around the area. Access to the site was tightly restricted during the operation.
Officials said five JCB machines and two Poclain excavators were used in the demolition process.
Senior officers monitored operation
Before the demolition began, senior officials carried out a review of the area and security deployment. Among those present were DCP Kashi Gaurav Banswal, ADCP Vaibhav Bangar, ACP Vijay Pratap and officers from multiple police stations. The heavy deployment continued until debris from the site was removed.
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