Archive · 7 Nov 2025
UP Police Register Case Against Women for Attempting Prayers at Mausoleum
Imagine a very old building that some people believe was once a Hindu temple but is now known as an Islamic tomb.
On Wednesday evening, a group of women, some wearing saffron and associated with the BJP party, wanted to celebrate a Hindu festival called Dev Dipawali at this site.
However, the police had put up barriers because there's a legal dispute about who the building belongs to and what it should be used for.
The women tried to get past the barriers to pray and light lamps, but the police stopped them, saying they couldn't start a new tradition at a place of another faith and that they had to wait for the court's decision.
The women argued with the police.
In the end, they performed their prayers from a nearby lane.
The police have now filed a case against the women for misbehaving and disturbing the peace.
Police in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, registered a case against 20 unidentified saffron-clad women for misbehaving with law enforcers and disturbing peace.
The women, allegedly accompanied by local BJP members, gathered at the 18th-century Maqbara-e-Sangi mausoleum on Wednesday evening to celebrate Dev Dipawali.
Hindutva supporters claim the mausoleum was formerly a Hindu temple and that they have a right to celebrate festivals there.
Police and the mausoleum committee stated it was the first time a Hindu festival was attempted at the site, which is barricaded due to ongoing litigation.
The FIR filed cites charges including obstructing public servants, disturbing peace, and misbehaving with police, with no arrests made yet.
- Who
- Approximately 20 saffron-clad women, accompanied by local BJP members, and police officials
- What
- Clashed with police while attempting to celebrate Dev Dipawali and perform prayers at an 18th-century Islamic mausoleum, leading to an FIR being filed.
- When
- Wednesday evening
- Where
- Maqbara-e-Sangi, Abunagar Redaiya Mohalla, Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Why
- Hindutva supporters claim the mausoleum was built over a former Hindu temple and sought to celebrate a Hindu festival, while police maintained barricades due to ongoing litigation and sought to prevent disturbances.
Hindutva Supporters/BJP Members
Police/Mausoleum Committee
Claim Over the Site
Hindutva Supporters/BJP Members
Claim the mausoleum (Maqbara-e-Sangi) was formerly a temple (Thakur Dwara) where Hindus prayed until 2012, and seek to celebrate Hindu festivals like Dev Dipawali there.
Police/Mausoleum Committee
State the site is an 18th-century Islamic mausoleum, barricaded due to ongoing litigation, and argue against allowing new traditions or Hindu festivals at a structure of another faith.
Allegations Against Police
Hindutva Supporters/BJP Members
Accuse police of misbehaving and preventing them from performing prayers at the site.
Police/Mausoleum Committee
State that the women misbehaved with police, obstructed their duty, and attempted to break barricades.
Historical Use of Site
Hindutva Supporters/BJP Members
Claim it was a Hindu temple (Thakur Dwara) and that Muslims 'took over' the building.
Police/Mausoleum Committee
Assert it is an 18th-century mausoleum and that the current attempt to celebrate Dev Dipawali is the first time a Hindu festival has been tried there by BJP women.
- Location
- Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Site of dispute
- Maqbara-e-Sangi (18th-century mausoleum)
- Date of incident
- Wednesday evening
- Number of women involved
- Approx. 20 saffron-clad women
- Alleged activity
- Attempting to celebrate Dev Dipawali, misbehaving with police, disturbing peace
- Legal action
- FIR registered against 20 unidentified women
- Court hearing
- November 12
- Site registration
- Sunni Waqf Board of Uttar Pradesh
