Authorities in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh have demolished a 150-year-old Muslim shrine during an overnight operation in Rampur district, prompting criticism and concern among local residents.

The shrine of Hazrat Bairam Shah Miyan, locally known as Neem Wali Ziyarat, was removed as part of a road-widening project. Officials said the structure was located in the middle of the roadway and its demolition was necessary to improve traffic flow and public safety.

The operation took place around 3 a.m. under heavy police security. Authorities cordoned off the area, diverted traffic, and restricted public access before public works crews used bulldozers to demolish the shrine. The debris was cleared shortly afterward, and an old neem tree adjacent to the site was later cut down.

Nasir Miyan, the shrine's caretaker, said he had looked after the site for nearly three decades and had received an official notice about a week before the demolition. He said attempts to challenge the decision through legal and administrative channels were unsuccessful.

The demolition comes amid ongoing criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Uttar Pradesh government over the removal of Muslim religious sites during road expansion, anti-encroachment, and urban redevelopment projects.