Bihad Wale Sayyad Baba shrine at risk, with access blocked, deep pits dug amid official silence
NEW DELHI/ETAWAH – A centuries-old shrine in Etawah district in Uttar Pradesh is facing fear and uncertainty after the Forest Department issued a notice seeking land papers, a move that local Muslims say points to possible bulldozer action.
The notice has been served on the caretakers of the Bihad Wale Sayyad Baba Mazar, located inside Fisher Forest near the Lion Safari on the outskirts of Etawah city. The shrine has long been a place of faith for Muslims, with devotees saying they have visited it for generations. An annual urs has also been held there for years with the knowledge of the local administration.
According to local sources, the issue arose after a complaint was submitted to the chief minister’s office, alleging that the shrine is situated on Forest Department land without permission. After this complaint, forest officials issued a notice asking the caretakers to show ownership documents. A copy of the notice was also pasted on the shrine.
Caretakers say the demand ignores the reality of old religious sites. Fazle Ilahi Sabri, who looks after the mausoleum, said, “We received the notice, but this shrine is very old. We do not have land papers. We only have permission letters that were given every year for the urs.”
Sabri said that the steps taken by officials have already caused harm. “The road leading to the mazar has been dug up. Pits around five feet deep have been made. Devotees are being stopped from going there. This feels like pressure even before any clear order,” he said.
Local Muslims say blocking access has added to their fear. Many elderly devotees now cannot reach the shrine. People preparing for the next urs say the situation has put the event in danger.
Some media reports link the shrine to Shamsuddin, said to be a commander of Mohammad Ghori, and note that it is locally known as Bihad Wale Sayyad Baba. Devotees say the shrine is part of local history and faith, and cannot be treated as an illegal structure overnight.
Members of the Muslim community have submitted a memorandum to the Etawah District Magistrate. They have asked for protection of the shrine and a fair hearing. A local said, “This mazar has stood here for years. Muslim places are questioned again and again. We are asking for equal treatment and justice.”
Another devotee asked why harsh steps were taken so early. “If the matter is being checked, why dig up roads and stop people from praying?” he said.
The district administration has not issued a clear public statement on the blocked road or the deep pits near the shrine. For now, fear hangs over the mazar, with Indian Muslims in Etawah saying their religious place is under threat as they wait for a just and humane decision.
