Betul: Villager’s Self-Funded School Demolished by Authorities Over ‘Illegal Madrasa’ Claims

Betul: In a shocking turn of events, a newly constructed school building in Dhaba village, Betul district, was demolished by local authorities, despite being funded entirely by a villager, Abdul Naeem. The administration cited the construction as “unauthorized,” while rumors in the village claimed it was an illegal madrasa.

Abdul Naeem, a resident of Dhaba, had built the school on his own land at a cost of ₹20 lakh. The project was still underway and not yet operational. Dhaba village has a population of around 2,000, with only three Muslim families residing there. Naeem emphasized that since the building was incomplete, the school could not yet be in operation.

Notice from Panchayat

The controversy escalated when the village panchayat issued Naeem a notice claiming the school lacked proper permission. Naeem stated that he had applied to the state education department on 30 December to open the school and had submitted all necessary land documents. Villagers supported him, and on 12 January, the panchayat issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC).

Speaking to the media, the village sarpanch clarified that there was no official information regarding a madrasa being operated on the site. However, the SDM visited the village and insisted that the building was illegal, giving Naeem the choice to demolish it himself or face government action.

Demolition Despite Appeal

On 13 January, Naeem and several villagers went to meet the Betul collector to explain the situation. While discussions were ongoing, authorities arrived with a bulldozer and demolished part of the building. The collector stated that education is a noble cause but cannot be pursued through illegal construction, and that the law must take its course.

A School for Village Children, Not a Madrasa

Naeem clarified that the school, spanning 5,000 sq. ft., was intended for village children from nursery to eighth grade under the MP Board curriculum. “With only three Muslim families in the village, who would I run a madrasa for?” he questioned. He reiterated that the school was meant solely to provide education to the children of Dhaba.