Events in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, unfolded over a few crucial hours that changed the political, legal, and social landscape of India. What began as a planned day of kar seva turned into the demolition of the 16th-century Babri Masjid, creating an improvised makeshift shrine at the site. This reconstruction pieces together that day's timeline, subsequent official findings, and the present status of the Ram Temple and the mosque site by using contemporaneous records and later inquiries.
A reconstruction of the facts
A sea of kar sevaks brought down the 16th century Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, during a VHP-BJP mobilisation. It was a chaotic, contested and a decisive day that shaped India's politics.
Below follows a detailed, factual reconstruction:
Prelude
• The VHP had announced a kar seva at Ayodhya on 6 December 1992.
• •Present in Ayodhya were senior leaders like L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti, Vinay Katiyar, Ashok Singhal, and others.
• The UP government, headed by Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court to assure that the structure of the Babri Masjid would not be harmed.
• The central paramilitary forces were stationed nearby, but they could act only on requisition by the state government.
• Local arrangements in Ayodhya included the UP police, Provincial Armed Constabulary, and district authorities.
Events of the morning: before demolition
8-10 am
• Crowds estimated by official reports and press accounts between 70,000 to 150,000 assembled near the disputed site.
• Local authorities had erected barricades to close off the inner perimeter area.
• A dais or a stage was erected at some distance away from the structure for the leaders' addresses.
• Media persons from many national and international organizations were in attendance.
10.30-11.30 am
• Speeches were delivered from the dais.
• The slogans were raised by sections of the crowd.
• Volunteer marshals from the associated organisations attempted to keep movement going around the barricaded zones.
• Breach of security and commencement of demolition
11.40 am
• A group of people breached the first police cordon and moved towards the building.
• Stones were thrown in the direction of police, according to police logs and press reports.
• Police units retreated from the immediate perimeter.
12.05 pm
• People climbed on the domes of Babri Masjid.
• Hammers, pickaxes, iron rods, and ropes were the kinds of tools observed in use.
12.15-12.30 pm
• Besides this, the political leaders called for restraint on the public-address system, which is revealed from the audio logs and accounts given by onlookers.
• There are also continuous crowds around the back and sides of the building.
Demolition: Sequence of events
12.30 pm
• Systematic hammering of the first dome started.
• The area around the domes showed visible dust and debris.
• District officials, including DM and SSP, remained present near the barricaded zone.
1.11 pm
• Multiple reporters and camera persons were assaulted; several cameras were damaged.
• Some media representatives moved away from the building for safety.
1.45-2.30 pm
• Police presence around the immediate structure reduced.
• Communication between state and central authorities continued in the afternoon, according to government records.
2.55 pm
• First dome collapsed.
• A large crowd of people gathered around where the stages were.
3.40 pm
• The second dome collapsed.
• Ropes and tools were used to access the remaining sections.
4.45 pm
• The third dome collapsed.
• The structure of Babri Masjid was completely brought down.
• Debris was levelled by groups using spades and rods.
Events subsequent to the demolition (same evening)
5.10 pm
• A lightweight construction of tarpaulin sheets and wooden poles had been set up on the cleaned platform.
• The idol installed in this temporary enclosure was known as Ram Lalla.
6-7 pm
• The district administration tried to restore order around the site.
• The people in attendance kept the perimeter of the building filled.
7.30 pm
• Communication sent by the Union Government recommended the dismissal of Uttar Pradesh government under Article 356.
• Later that night, the government of Kalyan Singh was dismissed.
• FIRs were registered against political leaders and unidentified kar sevaks.
Subsequent official findings
Liberhan Commission (2009)
• Submitted its report after 17 years and 399 sittings.
• Organisational roles, administrative lapses, and events of the day were identified.
• Established timeline based on testimony, video evidence, and deposition records.
CBI cases
• More than one CBI charge-sheet was filed between 1993 and 2011.
• In September 2020, the special CBI court in Lucknow acquitted all 32 accused, saying that the demolition looked "spontaneous".
Supreme Court (2019) — Title suit
• The Supreme Court awarded the entire disputed land for the construction of the Ram temple to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
• The Court ordered that 5 acres be given in Ayodhya to the Sunni Waqf Board for a mosque.
Present status: Ram Temple was inaugurated on 22 January 2024
Construction of ancillary structures within the complex continues. • Land has been allotted to the Sunni Waqf Board in Dhannipur, Ayodhya district, for the construction of a mosque.
The central sanctum of the Ram Temple was inaugurated on 22 January 2024 in Ayodhya. Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the pran pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol inside the garbhagriha. The event was organized by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, with participation from its trustees, priests, and invited guests. Representatives from various religious institutions, state governments, and public figures were in attendance. Security arrangements were jointly managed by the Uttar Pradesh Police, central agencies, and local administration. The ceremony was broadcast live across television networks and public venues in multiple states.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya is situated on the land awarded by the Supreme Court in its judgment dated 2019. The Government of India set up the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in February 2020 to undertake the construction of the temple. The foundation of the temple was laid on 5 August 2020, after which the construction of the temple started in phases. The central sanctum (garbhagriha), housing the idol of Ram Lalla, was opened to the public during the pran pratishtha ceremony on 22 January 2024.
The temple has been constructed in the Nagara architectural style with carved sandstone from Rajasthan and will be a three-storeyed structure with multiple mandapas. Construction of surrounding facilities, including museum, research centre, pilgrim amenities, and complex infrastructure, continues as part of the planned project.
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