OpIndia impact: Authorities in action after exclusive reportage on rapid Islamisation of UP-Nepal border

OpIndia has published a series of several ground reports on the growing Muslim population on the Nepal-India border and the difficulties that arise as a result. The rapid Islamisation of these districts concerns not just national security but also has ramifications on the lives of Hindus living there. Many of these complaints have since been taken seriously by the government and administration, and action has been ordered.

The intent behind madrasas in Shravasti to be examined

On September 6, 2022, Opindia reported increased Islamic activity in the Shravasti district of UP. We not only highlighted the rising Mazars and dargahs around Buddhist and Jain temples in the report, but we also included information on Mazars and madrasas in other parts of the Shravasti district.

According to recent media reports, the Shravasti district administration has now decided to investigate the ‘motive’ behind the madrasas established in the district. The District Minorities Officer has made this notification. The SDM, BSA, and the District Minority Officer are also part of the team formed to survey these madrasas.

#Shravasti

मदरसा सर्वे के लिए गठित की गई टीम
टीम में SDM, BSA, अल्पसंख्यक अधिकारी
श्रावस्ती के सभी मदरसों का होगा सर्वे
नेपाल बॉर्डर से सटे मदरसों पर रहेगी नजर@dmshravasti @shravastipolice #MadrasaSurvey pic.twitter.com/tgszLn7Otg
— Zee Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand (@ZEEUPUK) September 12, 2022

Separate reports were published on September 8 and September 10, 2022, in the Shravasti district, detailing the increasing Mazars, dargahs, and developments taking place in the district. Following the publication of these reports, the Shravasti Police visited the areas bordering Indo-Nepal on September 16, 2022. The police have described it as a patrol conducted in the interest of law and order.

#shravastipolice #पैदल_गश्त

पुलिस अधीक्षक श्री अरविंद कुमार मौर्य के निर्देशानुसार चौकी प्रभारी राजपुर मोड़ मय एसएसबी टीम द्वारा शांति एवं सुरक्षा व्यवस्था के दृष्टिगत इंडो नेपाल बॉर्डर सटे गांवों में पैदल गस्त किया गया एवं संदिग्ध वाहनों व्यक्तियों को चेक किया गया।#UPPolice pic.twitter.com/BQ1V8LrdY3
— shravasti police (@shravastipolice) September 16, 2022

Investigation of Madrasas on the Sonauli border

A team examining madrasas arrived at Madrasa Arabiya Ahle Sunnat Misbahul Uloom of hamlet Sukrauli near Sonauli region of Maharajganj district on the Indo-Nepal border, according to media sources. They examined the educational quality, discovering that several subjects were not taught and the youngsters studying were performing below the average level.

Increase in Police patrolling along the entire Nepal border including the Jarwa border

OpIndia’s report number 10 from September 12, 2022, highlighted the Jarawa border with Nepal in the Balrampur area. The mosques, Mazars, and madrasas of several locations encountered along the route from Balrampur to Jarwa were documented in this report.

On September 13, 2022, the day after our report was released, the Balrampur Police and the Paramilitary SSB patrolled the Jarwa border together. This information was posted by Balrampur Police through their official Twitter handle.

SPBalrampur के निर्देशन में जनपद के थाना को0 जरवा पुलिस टीम व एस0एस0बी0 50वी बटालियन द्वारा इन्डो, नेपाल बॉर्डर पर सुरक्षा के दृष्टिगत पैदल गस्त। #PolicePatrolling pic.twitter.com/QdNToOzGHK
— BALRAMPUR POLICE (@balrampurpolice) September 13, 2022

In addition, OpIndia published other reports on various days on Islamic activities in the Balrampur district. Following the publishing of these reports, the Balrampur Police and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) had a special meeting to discuss the issue of vigilance near the Nepal border on September 14, 2022.

#AddlSPblr श्रीमती नम्रिता श्रीवास्तव द्वारा भारत-नेपाल सीमावर्ती समस्त थानो के अधिकारी/कर्मचारी गण व SSB के साथ मीटिंग की गई। इस मीटिंग में भारत- नेपाल सीमा पर अवैध आवा गमन/ तस्करी की रोंक थाम हेतु सुरक्षा सम्बन्धी आवश्यक दिशा-निर्देश दिये गये।#BalrampurPolice pic.twitter.com/U1CDq9nLA9
— BALRAMPUR POLICE (@balrampurpolice) September 14, 2022

Protection to Hindu priest battling illegal occupants

The seventh report in the series was published on September 9, 2022. Along with the illegal occupation of Hindu temples, the protection of Mahant Mahendra Das Ji Maharaj of Hanuman Garhi was discussed in this report. Taking note of this news, Balrampur Police stated that any court order will be obeyed in the region. In addition, the police confirmed that if any deserving person requests security, it will be provided.

हनुमान गढ़ी की जमीन पर कब्जा, झारखंडी मंदिर सरोवर में ताजिया: नेपाल सीमा पर बढ़ती मुस्लिम आबादी, असर UP के बलरामपुर में – OpIndia Ground Report#NepalUPBorderIslamisation मामले पर @STVRahul की #OpIndiaGroundReport.#Balrampur #Nepal https://t.co/FbTU9ohpr9
— ऑपइंडिया (@OpIndia_in) September 9, 2022

Increased Police vigil on Siddharthnagar Border

OpIndia reported in a news initially published in Hindi on 5 September 2022 that various criminals and smugglers had been apprehended on the Siddharthnagar-Nepal border from time to time. This analysis also revealed which sorts of smugglers are attempting to capitalise on the slightest possibility.

According to the most recent information, Siddharthnagar Police, in collaboration with the SSB, has boosted vigilance near the Nepal border. Under ‘Operation Kavach,’ Siddharthnagar Police, in coordination with the SSB, is keeping surveillance on the borders.

आपरेशन कवच के अन्तर्गत पुलिस व सशस्त्र सीमा बल के संयुक्त टीम द्वारा अपराधियों पर अंकुश लगाने हेतु जनपद के सीमाई थानाक्षेत्रो में पैदल गश्त किया गया ।#UPPolice #Footpatrolling #siddharthnagpol #ऑपरेशन_कवच #SSB pic.twitter.com/OnkTyTuN8m
— SiddharthnagarPolice (@siddharthnagpol) September 15, 2022

Not just in these districts, but also in districts bordering Nepal, such as Pilibhit, Lakhimpur, and Maharajganj, the police have boosted patrols and watch on the borders.

#MaharajganjPolice
थाना बरगदवा पुलिस द्वारा एसएसबी के साथ थाना क्षेत्र से लगे इंडो-नेपाल बॉर्डर क्षेत्र में स्थित विभिन्न घाटों/पगडंडी रास्तों पर तस्करी की रोकथाम व सुरक्षा व्यवस्था सुदृढ़ बनाए रखने हेतु ज्वाइंट पेट्रोलिंग/कांबिंग व वाहन चेकिंग किया जा रहा है।#UPPolice pic.twitter.com/DaDk51fDCK
— MAHARAJGANJ POLICE (@maharajganjpol) September 16, 2022

Other media agencies on ground in the area

OpIndia released the first news in the series on September 3, 2022, with the hashtag #NepalUPBorderIslamisation. Following the broadcast of this news, numerous other media organisations began publishing news about the Nepal frontier. Some media outlets have also dispatched correspondents, who are now providing ground updates from the site.

The first report in this series can be read here in Hindi: कभी था हिंदू बहुल गाँव, अब स्वस्तिक चिह्न वाले घर पर 786 का निशान: भारत के उस पार भी डेमोग्राफी चेंज, नेपाल में घुसते ही मस्जिद, मदरसा और इस्लाम – OpIndia Ground Report

The same report can be read here in English: Demographic change hits other side of the border too, Mosques and Madarasas mushroom in former Hindu dominated areas in Nepal: Ground report

The second report in this series can be read here in Hindi: घरों पर चाँद-तारे वाले हरे झंडे, मस्जिद-मदरसे, कारोबार में भी दखल: मुस्लिम आबादी बढ़ने के साथ ही नेपाल में कपिलवस्तु के ‘कृष्णा नगर’ पर गाढ़ा हुआ इस्लामी रंग – OpIndia Ground Report

The same report can be read here in English: Islamic flags flying atop houses and mosques, madarsas influencing businesses: The creeping Islamisation of Nepal’s Krishnanagar

The third report in this series can be read here in Hindi: नेपाल में लव जिहाद: बढ़ती मुस्लिम आबादी और नेपाली लड़कियों से निकाह के खेल में ‘दिल्ली कनेक्शन’, तस्कर-गिरोह भारतीय सीमा पर खतरा – OpIndia Ground Report

The same report can be read here in English: Rising cases of love jihad in Nepal and its Delhi connection, smuggling plaguing India’s border with Nepal: Ground report

The fourth report in this series can be read here in Hindi: बौद्ध आस्था के केंद्र हों या तालाब… हर जगह मजार: श्रावस्ती में घरों की छत पर लहरा रहे इस्लामी झंडे, OpIndia Ground Report

The same report can be read here in English: Steady rise in mazars and madarsas adjoining Buddhist places of worship in UP’s Shravasti near Indo-Nepal border: Ground report

The fifth report in this series can be read here in Hindi: महाराणा प्रताप के साथ लड़ी थारू जनजाति बहुल गाँव में 3 मस्जिद, 1 मदरसा: भारत-नेपाल सीमा पर बढ़ती मुस्लिम आबादी का ये है ‘पैटर्न’ – OpIndia Ground Report

The same report can be read here in English: Rising number of mosques, madarsa along Indo-Nepal border: Ground report on Islamisation of village of Tharu tribe that fought along Maharana Pratap

The sixth report in this series can be read here in Hindi: बौद्ध-जैन मंदिरों के बीच दरगाह बनाई, जिस मजार को पुलिस ने किया ध्वस्त… वो फिर चकमकाई: नेपाल सीमा पर बढ़ती मुस्लिम आबादी – OpIndia Ground Report

The same report can be read here in English: Dargah and mazar built around Buddhist and Jain temple premises, illegal mazar once demolished surfaces again: UP’s Shravasti near Nepal border