The movement’s new warriors
Groups of Hindu priests and Muslim clerics clash-- the first recorded incident of violence over the holy site Mahant Raghubir Das, a Hindu priest, files the first court case and seeks permission to build a canopy on the Ramchabutra (a raised platform) outside the mosque. Faizabad district court rejects his plea An idol of Ram Lalla appears inside the mosque, allegedly planted by three Hindu men in the dark of a December night. Hindus offer prayers. Both sides file suits; the government declares the area as disputed and locks gates Two Hindu priests file suits before the Faizabad court seeking permission to offer prayers to Ram idols in the janamsthan (birthplace of Ram). While the inner courtyard remains locked, prayers are allowed. The Nirmohi Akhara files a third suit seeking possession of the site and claiming to be the custodians of
Ram Janmabhoomi The Sunni Central Board of Waqf files a case against the placing of idols in the mosque, challenges claims that the building and surrounding land were once a graveyard Lawyer Umesh Chandra Pandey appeals before district and sessions judge that the Ram Janmabhoomi gates be unlocked on the grounds that the Faizabad district administration, and not a court, had ordered its closure. Court orders the government to open the Ram Janmabhoomi for “darshan and pooja” BJP president
Lal Krishna Advani goes on a Somnath-to-ayodhya rath yatra to
“educate people” about the movement to build a temple at the disputed site. Thousands of Kar sevaks (volunteers) gather in Ayodhya. Babri Masjid is partially damaged and 30 are killed in police firing