People's Democracy

A Preplanned Demolition

First Hand Accounts

After the hoodlums of the RSS-BJP-VHP-Bajrang Dal combine perpetrated their most despicable anti-national act of demolishing the Babri Masjid, the RSS parivar tried to wriggle out of its predicament by posing that it was an act of an excited mob which went out of control at the last moment. That nothing could be further from the truth is, however, clear from some of the eyewitness’ reports in newspapers which describe how the “rehearsal” for this perfidy had been going on for some time, to say nothing about the highly inflammatory speeches that were going on near the disputed structure for  days together.

We give below two extracts from The Pioneer (English) and Jansatta (Hindi) which gives ample evidence of the planning that went into this treacherous act:

Praveen Jain

If you think the demolition of the Babri Masjid was a spontaneous one, then hear this: On Saturday afternoon a BJP Member of Parliament forewarned me of the events to follow on Sunday (December 6).

He smiled as he directed me to the spot where the kar sevaks were rehearsing how to bring down the 465-year old structure. The kar sevaks, with ropes and rods had roped a rock pile and were tugging at it from different directions.  As events turned out later, this was the very manner in which the three domes of the mosque were brought down the next day.

Near the mosque, a concrete dais had been erected. Hordes of kar sevaks  from several directions were periodically racing towards the dais.  This was the run-up to Sunday afternoon.

December 6:

Early on Sunday we made our way to the spot where the BJP-VHP combine was expected to carry out the “symbolic” kar seva.  All photographers, journalists and cameramen were directed to a dharmashala (Manak Bhawan). The terrace had been cleared for us.

As events moved forward Bajrang Dal activists scampered onto the terrace. Their number increased till we were outnumbered. Sensing trouble, I slipped away.

It was the sensible move, as I realised later. The journalists and camera crew who stayed back were pulled and jostled around, their movie cameras were snatched away and flung down from the terrace five floors above the ground.  On the ground there were thousands of people milling around. They were all chanting “Jai Siya Ram”.  They converged on me. Even though I was caught unawares I managed to get away from the spot. Someone in the mob snatched at my open bag. Later I realised that the kar sevaks had made off with Rs 2,500.

Even as the crowd chased me, its attention was caught by another hapless photographer who was literally shooting from the hip as he ran.  The mob set upon him giving me a fleeting opportunity to move towards the dais where the BJP-VHP leaders were seated. On the way I met two other photographers—Nithin Raj and Pablo Bartholomeo. On the spur of the moment we decided there might be safety in numbers and were glued together by fear.

By then the hordes had swarmed up the domes and they fell upon it with trishuls and whatever else they had their hands.

It would have been unthinkable not to get this on film, even if this was the last thing we did.  Out came our cameras and we got clicking. This focussed attention on us. Kar sevaks  armed with trishuls and daggers chased us.  I was luckier than the other two who were nabbed, stabbed and beaten.

Later that night journalists who managed to get away from the site told us the mosque had been turned to rubble.

December 7:

Early in the day, sporting a saffron bandana printed entirely with the word Ram and wearing saffron sweaters and carrying only a minimum of photo equipment in our pockets we made our way steadily to the complex.

Kar sevaks were clearing the rubble to make way for some sort of a structure. To take pictures from so near would have been suicidal. Through a small window of a house in the vicinity I squeezed the shutter six times.

I breathed freely. Not outside the house. Not in Faizabad—12 kilometers away.  Not on the flight back.  But at the office when the prints came out fine.

They were the pictures of Hindus giving Hinduism a bad name. I am ashamed.

The Pioneer, December 8, 1992

Hemant Sharma

What happened here yesterday (Ayodhya, December 6) was preplanned. The plan to demolish the disputed structure was within the full knowledge of VHP, Bajrang Dal and sadhu sants. Selected cadre of the RSS were being methodically given training for the job in Ram Katha Kunj ….

The planning for demolition was divided into five distinct parts ….

For the job there were separate groups of kar sevaks who climbed up the disputed structure from the north and south. An RSS volunteer in uniform, standing on the watch tower just in front of the structure was directing them.  He commanded the kar sevaks  methodically with whistle and flag in hand. There was a separate group to carry away the injured kar sevaks.  This group was already prepared with cots and vehicles before the kar sevaks  climbed the structure …. Another group was given responsibility for keeping the photographers away from the whole process, and it was engaged only in beating up the cameramen and breaking their cameras.  A big contingent was deployed on all roads leading to Ayodhya, preventing all others except the kar sevaks  from reaching there.

Every attempt was made also to prevent leakage of the news of what was happening in Ayodhya. Telephone lines were cut and all wires of the police control room removed. All this had taken place within 20 to 30 minutes of the attack on the structure ….

Picks and shovels were kept on the spot for demolition of the structure.  The first batch of kar sevaks  moving towards the masjid had ropes and climbing the structure with the help of these. While they were climbing, power supply was stopped, as electric wires lay between the outer wall and the structure. After entering the disputed area, the kar sevaks first disconnected the CRPF’s hotline. Apart from those in the district hospital, a team of doctors was also present in the Ramjanmabhoomi Trust office as well….

Jansatta,  December 8, 1992