Activists protest lake encroachment, mosque management refutes allegations

Sagara, 01 Aug 2018 [Fik/News Sources]: The activists of the Ganapathi Kere Ulisi Horata Samiti recently, held a protest alleging lake encroachment by the Jamia Masjid here.

Sagara MLA H Halappa said that the government land belonged to all people and it should not be used to construct any religious structures. "After visiting the spot, prima facie it looks like the lake has encroached", he added.

However, the management committee of the Jamia Masjid denied these allegations. It claimed that the structure of the mosque was built 450 years ago by the Adil Shahi Sultans. The deputy commissioner conducted a detailed survey of the land in contention about three years ago. ADLR too has demarcated the boundary of the plot last month. All construction is being carried out according to the law, it said.

Assistant Commissioner of Sagar Sub-Division Nagaraj R Singrer said that the land belonged to the Jamia Masjid Waqf Board as per the land records and the survey reports. "PWD department is monitoring the construction work of the mosque. I don't have the authority to stop the work," he added.

The committee also submitted a petition to the assistant commissioner seeking security for the mosque.