After desecration of the Mangi Maqbara graves on 11 August the Municipal Council moves to secure the historic mausoleum
FATEHPUR — The centuries-old tomb Mangi Maqbara in this Uttar Pradesh city remains at the centre of controversy as communal tensions continue to simmer. On Saturday (30 August), the district court heard arguments in the ongoing title suit Maqbara Mangi vs Ramnaresh but adjourned proceedings to 10 September.
The case concerns ownership claims over the mausoleum’s land, recorded in government files as Maqbara Mangi (National Property) on Khasra number 753. Muslim leaders and historians maintain the site as the resting place of Nawab Abdul Samad Khan, while Hindu organisations claim it conceals an ancient temple.
The dispute escalated earlier this month when Hindu organisations, supported by BJP leaders, stormed the mausoleum on 11 August in the presence of a large posse of policemen. Witnesses say more than 2,000 people gathered at the site carrying saffron flags and chanting religious slogans.
In full view of the media and security personnel, the crowd vandalised the site, damaging graves inside and outside the complex, before performing Hindu rituals and reciting Hanuman Chalisa.
A Muslim resident of the area, who requested anonymity, described the incident as heartbreaking. “We watched our ancestors’ graves being desecrated while the police stood by. This is not just about land, it is about erasing our history,” he said.
Hindu organisations, including the Math Mandir Sanrakshan Sangharsh Samiti, Bajrang Dal and Hindu Mahasabha, claimed the mausoleum was originally a temple dedicated to Thakurji (Shri Krishna) and Lord Shiva. BJP district president Mukhlal Pal went further, declaring, “This is not the tomb of Nawab Abdul Samad but a thousand-year-old temple.”
His remarks have drawn criticism from Muslim community leaders, who accuse the BJP of encouraging the attack. “The vandalism was carried out with political backing. Instead of protecting a heritage monument, they want to rewrite history for votes,” alleged Mohammad Salim, a local activist.
The legal battle over the site has been ongoing for months. During the latest hearing, both sides presented arguments before the court fixed the next date for 10 September. Meanwhile, a petition for restoration of the mausoleum and damaged graves has been filed.
Tension remains high in Fatehpur, with Muslims accusing authorities of failing to act against those responsible for the violence. “If such attacks were carried out on a temple, the guilty would have been punished immediately. But because this is a Muslim shrine, silence prevails,” said an elderly local at the court premises.
In an apparent attempt to defuse tension, the Fatehpur Municipal Council has announced plans to secure the site by erecting a barbed wire fence around the mausoleum complex. Officials have also written to the state government requesting permission for additional protective measures.
A senior council officer told reporters: “We are preparing to build a security fence to prevent further damage. Our duty is to protect the structure and maintain peace in the area.”
For many local Muslims, the attack on Mangi Maqbara is symbolic of a wider trend of targeting Muslim heritage sites. The destruction of graves has caused deep pain in the community.
A Muslim woman from Abunagar expressed her sorrow: “This is the tomb of Nawab Abdul Samad Khan, respected for centuries. Now people want to wipe away his memory and call it a temple. This is injustice.”
As the legal dispute continues, residents await the next court date with little faith in authorities but hope that justice will prevail. Until then, the historic mausoleum remains fenced off, a reminder of growing tensions between politics, religion, and heritage in Uttar Pradesh.
