Abdul Naeem poured nearly Rs 20 lakh of borrowed money and family savings into the school (Express Photo). A private school built to educate children from nursery to Class 8 in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul district became embroiled in controversy when rumours falsely branding it as an unauthorised madrasa led to its partial demolition, officials said on Wednesday. Abdul Naeem, a local resident who had poured nearly Rs 20 lakh of borrowed money and family savings into the construction, watched portions of his dream crumble on the evening of January 13 as earthmovers tore through walls and a front shed under administrative orders. For years, Naeem had envisioned a nursery-to-Class 8 school for children in Dhaba village and surrounding tribal hamlets, where families often send their children miles away for decent education. He secured commercial land diversion, obtained a panchayat NOC, and on December 30 filed his formal application with the School Education Department, submitting all requisite land documents.

Source: Indian Express January 15, 2026 17:45 UTC