Hyderabad: In recent years, several structures labelled as encroachments were demolished as part of an anti-encroachment drive in Uttarakhand. Among these were structures associated with the Muslim community, including mosques and shrines.
In this context, a video showing the demolition of green and white buildings with tombs on their premises has been circulating, accompanied by claims suggesting that a mosque was demolished in Uttarakhand.
Claim:
Several X users shared the video with the caption, “A comforting video has been received from Devbhoomi Uttarakhand.” (Archive)
A similar claim can be seen here. (Archive)
Investigation:
NewsMeter found that the claim is false. The video is from Indonesia and does not show a mosque being demolished.
Upon a reverse image search, we found an extended version of the video showing the demolition of multiple structures, including the one seen in the viral clip. The video was uploaded on an Indonesian YouTube channel on March 9.
According to the channel, the video featured the efforts of Kang Dedi Mulyadi, an Indonesian politician and environmental advocate, to restore forest function and promote proper waste disposal as measures to combat flooding.
We also found footage of the structure’s demolition in video reports published by the Indonesian media outlet Kompas Media Group on YouTube and Facebook.
According to the reports, the government sealed and demolished Hibiscus Fantasy Puncak, a tourist site, on March 6, 2025, after it was allegedly linked to flash floods in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. The operation, led by top officials including minister of environment Hanif Faisol and West Java governor Dedi Mulyadi, was carried out in response to the disaster.
Mulyadi stated that the development had altered the area’s natural structure, contributing to the floods. Flood-affected residents also supported the demolition, assisting in the process using excavators.
We found an aerial image of the demolished green and white building at Hibiscus Fantasy Puncak, published by CNN Indonesia and featured on Kompas’s website.
According to Kompas, West Java governor Dedi Mulyadi aims to complete the demolition of unlicensed buildings in the area before Eid, focusing on 25 structures that lack proper permits, including those in restricted zones.
Therefore, we conclude that the video does not show the demolition of a mosque in Uttarakhand. The claim is false.
Conclusion: The viral video does not depict the demolition of the Mosque in Uttarakhand. The claim is false. The video shows the demolition of an illegal structure in a forested area in Indonesia.
The original fact-check story was published by Newsmeter, and has been republished by Lighthouse Journalism as a part of Shakti Collective.
