After 3 Days of Rumours, Dream School Built By Naeem For Tribal Children Razed In MP
Betul, Madhya Pradesh: In Madhya Pradesh’s Betul district, a sudden rumor for three days resulted in the quick demolition of a school, which was built to educate children from nursery to Class 8. The school was built by Abdul Naeem spending Rs 20 lakh from his own pocket, including borrowed money to help Dalit and tribal children in his village.
The rumors allegedly branded the institution as an unauthorized madrasa, leading to its partial demolition on Wednesday, January 14. The officials had said that all documents are in order, and as per their advice, the owner obtained an NOC too from the Panchayat administration. However, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate insisted on demolishing the building.
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Subsequently, the man approached the collector accompanied by Congress leader Hemant Wagadre, and pleaded that all the documents were complete, and the NOC had been obtained from the panchayat.
But the collector allegedly said they wanted to do something as sacred as education through illegal means. Soon, Abdul Naeem watched portions of his dream crumble. “The Collector and the SDM are not willing to speak to the media on this issue, nor are they issuing any official statement,” wrote fact-checker and Alt co-founder Muhammed Zubair in an X post.
Abdul Naeem spent ₹20 lakh from his own pocket to build a school to educate Dalit & tribal children in his village.
On Saturday, officials said, “All the documents are in order, but get a NOC from the panchayat.” But when the NOC was obtained from the panchayat. The SDM… https://t.co/qnVWxDZ2uE pic.twitter.com/JFbO9CvRwM— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) January 14, 2026
Rumours began to spread that a madrasa was being built in the area, while the construction was progressing steadily. Then, the Gram Panchayat issued a notice ordering Naeem to demolish the structure himself, citing lack of permission. Soon, Nadeem rushed to the panchayat office to submit a formal response, he says officials refused to accept his application and told him to return later.
By the time Nadeem along with a group of concerned villagers travelled to the district collectorate to meet the Collector and seek clarity, a portion of the school building and the front shed had been razed by the JCB.
