Communal Tension in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh: Saffron Flags Raised at 200-Year-Old Mausoleum, Reminiscent of Babri Demolition

Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh – Two days ago, communal tensions flared in Fatehpur as a large mob stormed a centuries-old mausoleum waving saffron flags, evoking memories of the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition. The incident occurred at the mausoleum of Nawab Abdul Samad, where suddenly a crowd, reportedly numbering in the hundreds, forced their way onto the premises, raising slogans and attempting to assert the site as a Hindu temple.

Eyewitnesses and viral videos from the scene show that attackers carried and waved saffron flags, with some vandalizing graves inside the structure. Despite a significant police presence and the arrival of senior officers at the spot, law enforcement appeared to be mere bystanders, failing to immediately control the situation. This incident stands in sharp contrast to the stern police action seen previously during the violence over the Jama Masjid survey in Sambhal, when authorities turned the city into a virtual fortress.

The tension began building on August 8, when leaders from various Hindu organizations submitted a memorandum to the District Magistrate (DM) claiming the mausoleum was not an Islamic monument, but instead a Shiva temple, citing wall carvings of tridents, bel leaves, lotuses, and symbols associated with Hindu deities. The group announced plans to “cleanse” the site and celebrate Janmashtami on August 11, but the DM refused permission, warning of legal consequences for any such actions.

Despite heightened alerts and barricading, the situation escalated on August 10 after a press conference by local BJP district president Mukhlal Pal, who declared his intent to perform rituals at the mausoleum. The following day, approximately 2,000 people linked to Hindu organizations broke through police barricades and entered the mausoleum, attempting to plant saffron flags and carry out worship rituals. This led to strong protests by members of the Muslim community. However, local police did not include the BJP leader’s name in the official FIR.

The contrasting responses have triggered questions about impartiality in policing. During the Sambhal violence, prominent Muslim leaders and even a Samajwadi Party MP were quickly named in police reports and some arrested. In Fatehpur, however, the handling appears much more restrained. Social media and community leaders have questioned whether UP Police applies the law equally, or selectively, depending on the community involved.

The mausoleum itself is nearly 500 years old, built by a grandson of Mughal Emperor Akbar as a resting place for Nawab Abdul Samad, a powerful Mughal-era governor and loyalist. The site’s status as a registered religious monument is uncontested in government records. Muslims in the region assert the monument’s history is well-documented and publicly recorded.

This incident is now widely debated, both for the communal tensions it has reignited and for the questions it raises about law enforcement’s response to such flashpoints. Many are drawing uncomfortable parallels to past sectarian strife and questioning whether the lessons of 1992 have been forgotten. Community leaders are urging for peace and calling on authorities to maintain the rule of law for all.

In the coming days, authorities in Uttar Pradesh are under pressure not only to pacify the situation but also to prove their commitment to justice and impartiality in handling communal disputes.