A partially constructed private school building in Dhaba village, Bhainsdehi tehsil of Betul district, was partially demolished by the district administration on January 13, 2026, following allegations that it was an unauthorized madrasa. The incident has sparked widespread shock, outrage, and debate, particularly given the remote village's small population of about 2,000 people and the presence of only three Muslim families. Abdul Naeem, the local resident who was funding the construction at a personal cost of around Rs 20 lakh, insists the structure was intended as a secular private school for children from nursery to Class 8 and not a religious institution.

The controversy began about three days before the demolition, when rumors spread in the village claiming Naeem was operating an illegal madrasa. Naeem strongly refuted the allegation, stating that the building was still under construction, no classes had started, and he had already applied to the Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education on December 23, 2025, for permission to run a regular school. He submitted land documents and other required paperwork. On January 11, the Gram Panchayat issued a notice directing him to demolish the structure due to lack of permission. When Naeem approached the Panchayat office, he claims his application was not accepted, and he was asked to return later.

Following protests by villagers against the demolition notice, the Gram Panchayat issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) on January 12. The village sarpanch later confirmed that no formal complaint about a madrasa had ever been received and that permission had been granted. Despite this development, and while many villagers were away meeting the district collector, a team led by Bhainsdehi Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ajit Maravi arrived on January 13 with a JCB machine, police, and revenue officials and demolished a portion of the building along with a front shed. Officials described the structure as an encroachment and illegal construction.

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Abdul Naeem expressed deep disappointment, highlighting the irony of the situation in a village with only three Muslim households. "If I were to open a madrasa, whom would I even teach?" he asked. He admitted being unaware of the need for a Panchayat NOC and offered to pay any fine imposed, requesting only that the building not be fully demolished. Local resident Sonu Panse of Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti supported Naeem, stating there was no religious activity and that the school was being built with community consent to provide local education for children.

Betul Collector Narendra Suryavanshi defended the action, stating that a complaint had been received about unauthorized construction and that the administration was bound to act according to law. The incident has drawn criticism in the context of Madhya Pradesh's education challenges, where thousands of government schools operate without basic infrastructure like toilets and buildings. The sudden demolition has left the village divided and raised questions about administrative haste, rumor-mongering, and the handling of private educational initiatives in rural areas.

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