New Delhi: The two-century-old shrine of a Muslim saint, known popularly as the Nanhe Mian Chishti Dargah at Mandi House was demolished by the civic authorities of New Delhi. As per reports, there was no notice served or any information conveyed to the caretaker of the shrine.
It is a Sufi shrine and the grave of Sufi saint of the same name by which the dargah is known – Syyed Nanhe Mian Chishti or “Little Gentleman”. The place had been a common visiting site for many, irrespective of their faith.
One of the dargah’s caretakers, Akbar Ali, told The Wire that no notices were received before authorities removed the structure.
“Earlier on August 2, 2022 they had come and removed the tiles, and the boundary wall, and so on. Next on April 26 this year, they suddenly arrived at 3 am in the morning and removed everything,” Ali was quoted as saying by The Wire.
The report quoting another caretaker Anwar Ali said he has been taking care of the site for the last 45 years. He said the dargah is at least 250 years old.
According to papers accessed by the news website, it showed proof of land tax having been paid since the 1970s.
