New Delhi: A group of Hindu men allegedly attempted to desecrate a mazar in Delhi’s ITO Yamuna Ghat area on Monday, February 2. One of them, identified as Akash Pandit, had earlier been involved in an attempt to demolish the shrine last month.
In a video circulating on social media, Pandit is heard daring people to share the clip online and file as many cases against him as they wished. Reports by Observer Post said the group was seen vandalising the mazar while chanting “Jai Shri Ram.”
On January 15, Pandit and his associates had claimed links to the Gau Raksha Dal and were reportedly seen using an axe to damage the shrine. The group alleged the mazar was an illegal structure built next to a temple and insisted the land needed to be cleared. However, authorities have not confirmed these claims.
In a related incident on January 24, a century-old shrine of Syed Baba Bulleshah in Uttarakhand’s Mussoorie was allegedly vandalised by a Hindutva mob linked to the Hindu Raksha Dal.
Around 25 to 30 individuals reportedly arrived at the shrine with hammers, damaging nearby structures and destroying property at the Wynberg Allen Estate. A video of the incident showed the mob chanting religious slogans while carrying out the attack, prompting police to launch an investigation.
Mussoorie sub-inspector Satendra Kumar Bhati confirmed that an FIR was filed by Akram Khan the following day. Police booked 25 to 30 people under Section 196(1)(b) for promoting enmity and 298 for damaging a place of worship under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
According to the FIR accessed by Siasat.com, the vandalism was allegedly carried out with the intention of inciting religious tensions.
