Amreli Madrasa Run By Maulana With Suspected Terror Links Demolished

Amreli: In a swift crackdown, authorities in Gujarat’s Amreli district on Tuesday demolished a madrasa, citing illegal construction and serious security concerns. The institution, located in Himkhimdi village of Dhari taluka, was reportedly operated by a Maulana under investigation for alleged connections to extremist elements abroad.

The madrasa was run by Maulana Mohammad Fazal Abdul Aziz Sheikh, who has become the focus of a counterterrorism probe after Gujarat’s Special Operations Group (SOG) found indications of his involvement with foreign-based extremist communication channels. According to sources, Maulana Sheikh was active in several encrypted WhatsApp groups linked to Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.

Local revenue officials confirmed that the madrasa had been constructed on a 100-square-yard plot that was initially earmarked for economically weaker residents under a government land distribution scheme. Preliminary records suggest the land had either been illegally sold or donated in violation of the original grant terms.

Anticipating unrest, the local administration deployed a strong police force including two Deputy Superintendents of Police and three Police Inspectors. The operation was executed early in the morning to avoid disruptions, with authorities ensuring there were no untoward incidents during the razing of the building. “The demolition followed an extensive investigation by the Revenue Department and local authorities, who found compelling evidence of irregularities,” remarked DySP Rathod.

The cleric came under scrutiny in the wake of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. As part of a statewide intelligence sweep, Amreli’s SOG began reviewing undocumented residents and flagged suspicious activity at the Himkhimdi madrasa. Maulana Sheikh, who originally hails from Juhapura in Ahmedabad, was found to be involved in questionable digital communications with individuals across borders. The ATS is now handling the interrogation and analysis of digital evidence retrieved from the cleric.