Hyderabad: Roughly 2 km from the Golconda Fort, Toli Masjid, a heritage site built in 1671 AD, has 27 acres and 30 gunta of Wakf property attached to it. However, over 17 acres of this land have been encroached by politically influential land grabbers and illegal constructions can be found across the property.

Mahboob Pride Palace, one such illegally constructed function hall, became operational last month despite an FIR being booked against the owner, Mr Shaik Hameed, at Kulsumpura Police Station for encroaching on 1 acre of Wakf land.

“We have been raising the issue with the authorities since 2006 when a patch of land was being used for cultivation purpose by people who claimed to have purchased it. Such encroachments are tantamount to discretion of the masjid and we will fight to protect it at any cost,” said Mr Osman Bin Mohammed al Hajri, president of Deccan Waqf Protection Society.

Built by Mir Musa Khan Mahaldar during the reign of Abdullah Qutub Shah, the masjid is a “protected heritage site” as per declaration of Archaeological Survey of India. The GO MS No 565 states: “The Municipal Corporations and Municipalities in the State of Andhra Pradesh should within a period of 15 days from the date of receipt of representation made or notice sent by any person with the complaint regarding illegal/unauthorised construction, invariably give a written response to the person sending representation or notice.” But no such correspondence has been received by activists.

49 letters sent by Wakf Board ignored by state:

Encroachers of the Toli Masjid land are so powerful that officials have not initiated action despite being specifically told by Deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali on January 28.

The chief executive officer of the Wakf Board sent a reminder on January 29 to the collector, GHMC and police on January 29 requesting them to take immediate necessary action. The Wakf Board is yet to receive any reply. This is not the first time.

Information secured under the RTI by Osman Bin Mohammed Al Hajri shows that since February last year, several letters sent by the Wakf Board have been ignored. On December 30, Wakf Board special officer M.J. Akbar sent out yet another letter which revealed that 49 representations had been made by the board.