UP: Hindutva mob create ruckus at mausoleum in Fatehpur; police say probing incident
Kanpur (UP), Aug 11 (PTI): Members of Hindutva right-wing outfits allegedly created ruckus at a mausoleum in Fatehpur district in Uttar Pradesh on Monday as they demanded permission to offer prayers there, claiming that a temple had previously existed at the site.
Elaborate security arrangements had been put in place in and around the centuries-old mausoleum of Nawab Abu Samad after BJP's district president, Mukhlal Pal, had warned the district administration that he, along with Hindu organisations, would perform prayers at the site on August 11, claiming that the centuries-old structure was a temple with a 'Shivling'.
A video, which could not be independently verified, showed some people vandalising parts of the structure and hoisting a saffron flag.
Superintendent of Police (Fatehpur) Anoop Kumar Singh said they are probing the incident.
"It is being probed how the mob managed to enter the mausoleum and took the law into their hands despite elaborate security arrangements. A case under relevant sections of the BNS will be registered against those found guilty in the matter. Strict action will be initiated against the guilty, and no one will be spared," he told PTI.
As tension prevailed in the area, police contingents from several areas, including Kotwali, Radhanagar, Malwan and Husainganj, were deployed to maintain law and order, officials said.
Pal had threatened to launch a protest if the administration attempted to stop them. He had claimed that the site was a temple of 'Thakur Ji', which was converted into a mausoleum by "invaders".
He had claimed that symbols like the trident and lotus flower inside the structure are markers of a Hindu temple and are never found in a mausoleum.
SP Anoop Kumar Singh had earlier said that the administration is taking the matter seriously and has deployed adequate police force in and around the site.
"We are maintaining strict vigil to ensure peace. No one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands," he had said, adding that the District Magistrate was also monitoring the situation.
The 'Math-Mandir Sanrakshan Sangharsh Samiti', a body representing local Hindu religious leaders and community groups, has submitted a memorandum to District Magistrate Ravindra Singh demanding his intervention.
The committee alleged that the "temple" is in a "severely dilapidated" condition, posing both a safety hazard to devotees and a threat to the city's cultural heritage.
On the other hand, the Rashtriya Ulema Council has also sent a letter to the DM urging the administration not to tamper with the historical character of the tomb.
The mausoleum's caretaker (Mutawalli), Mohammad Nafis, said that the structure is nearly 500 years old and was built by Emperor Akbar's grandson.
It houses the graves of Abu Mohammad and Abu Samad, he said.
Hindutva terrorism increasing day by day, they attacked on Fatehpur Dargah. We can clearly seen everything going on in the presence of police...!
— Adv Rukhsana Sayed (@Umm_e_meerann) August 11, 2025
What's going on sir!? @UPGovt @fatehpurpolice @Uppolice @dgpup#Fatehpur pic.twitter.com/uhABa0ADC6
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Rickelton's ton in vain as SRH beat MI by 6 wickets
Mumbai (PTI): Ryan Rickelton's whirlwind unbeaten ton was overshadowed by Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 65 as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
Chasing an imposing 244-run target, Travis Head (76 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24) shared 129 runs for the opening wicket to set the platform for SRH.
Klaasen (65 not out off 30 balls) then displayed his all-round hitting abilities to guide SRH home with the help of Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Salil Arora (30 not out off 10) in 18.4 overs.
Earlier, Rickelton's knock powered MI to 243 for five.
MI rode on a 93-run stand between Rickelton (123 not out off 55 balls) and Will Jacks (46 off 22) in 7.1 overs for the opening stand to power the side.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya scored a valuable 31 off 15 balls before being dismissed.
Praful Hinge (2/54), Eshan Malinga (1/29), Sakib Hasan (1/39) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/31) were the wicket-takers for SRH.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indian: 243 for 5 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 123 not out; Praful Hinge 2/54).
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 249 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Travis Head 76, Heinrich Klaasen 65 not out; AM Ghazanfar 2/51).
