A timeline of Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute

The decades old Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi land dispute in Ayodhya has proved to be a major issue of conflict in religious and political terms.

Let's have a look at this timeline, according to a report by The Times Of India, of how this complex dispute emerged, escalated and has confounded any lasting resolution over the years.

1853

The first recorded incident of violence over the holy site took place in 1853, during the reign of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh. Nirmohis, a Hindu sect, claim that a Hindu temple had been destroyed during Mughal Emperor Babur's times to build the mosque.

1859

The British colonial administration erected a fence at the site in 1859 to separate the places of worship. The Muslims were allowed to use the inner court, while the Hindus used the outer court.

1885

In January 1885, Mahant Raghubir Das filed the first case in connection with the dispute, seeking permission to build a canopy on the Ramchabutra (a raised platform) outside the mosque. The plea was, however, rejected by the Faizabad district court.

1949

Lord Ram's idols were found inside the mosque in 1949, allegedly being placed by Hindu groups. Both sides filed suits, before the government declared the area as disputed and locked the gates to the premise.

1950

In 1950, Gopal Singh Visharad and Mahant Paramhans Ramchandra Das filed suits with the Faizabad court seeking permission to offer prayers to the idols in the janamsthan. Prayers were allowed, however, the inner courtyard remained locked.

1959

The Nirmohi Akhara filed a third suit in 1959 seeking possession of the site, claiming to be the custodians of the Ram Janmabhoomi.

1961

In 1961, the Sunni Central Board of Waqf filed a case against the placing of idols inside the mosque and claimed that the mosque and surrounding land was a graveyard.

1984

Hindu groups formed a committee to spearhead the construction of the Ram temple at the Janmabhoomi site in 1984. The temple movement gathered momentum, led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L K Advani.

1986

A district court in 1986 ordered that the gates of the mosque be opened and Hindus be allowed to worship there, on a plea by Hari Shankar Dubey. As Muslims protested the move to allow Hindus to pray in the mosque, a Babri Mosque Action Committee was formed.

1989

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) laid the foundation of a Ram temple on the land next to the Babri Masjid in 1989. Justice Deoki Nandan Agarwal, former VHP vice-president, filed a case asking for the mosque to be shifted elsewhere. Four suits that had been pending at the Faizabad court were transferred to a special bench of the High Court.

1990

Volunteers of the VHP partially damaged the mosque in 1990. PM Chandrashekhar intervened and tried to resolve the issue through negotiations, but these failed. In September, Advani held a rath yatra to educate people about the Ayodhya movement. He started from Somnath in Gujarat, and ended his yatra at Ayodhya.

1991

BJP became the primary opposition party in 1991, and powered by the rath yatra, came into power in Uttar Pradesh. The momentum for the temple movement increased as karsevaks/volunteers poured into Ayodhya.

1992

The disputed Babri Mosque was razed to the ground by the karsevaks on December 6, 1992, with the support of Shiv Sena, VHP and BJP. This led to some of the deadliest riots across the country, leaving over 2,000 people dead. The central government, headed by P V Narasimha Rao, set up a commission of enquiry under Justice M S Liberhan on December 16.

2001

Tensions brewed during the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition in 2001. The VHP reaffirmed its commitment towards building the Ram temple.

2002

In February 2002, at least 58 people were killed in an attack on a train from Godhra in Gujarat, believed to be carrying karsevaks to Ayodhya. Riots erupted across the state and over 1,000 people were said to have been killed during the riots.

The High Court ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to excavate the site to determine if it was earlier a temple. In April 2002, three HC judges started the hearing to determine who the site belongs to.

2003

The ASI began the survey to determine whether a temple existed on the site in 2003, and found evidence of the presence of a temple under the mosque. Muslim organisations disputed the findings. In September, a court ruled that seven Hindu leaders should stand trial for inciting violence and the destruction of the mosque. Advani was the deputy prime minister, and hence did not face any charges.

2004

After the Congress came back into power at the Centre in 2004, a UP court ruled that the previous order exonerating Advani should be reviewed.

2005

Suspected Islamist militants attacked the disputed site in 2005. Security forces killed five alleged militants and a sixth unidentified person.

2009

In June 2009, the Liberhan commission, which had been set up to investigate the events following the demolition, submitted its report, which blamed politicians from BJP for their role in the demolition, causing uproar in the parliament.

2010

The Allahabad High Court pronounced its judgment on the four title suits relating to the dispute in 2010. In the landmark hearing, the HC ruled that the disputed land be divided into three parts -- one third to Ram Lalla, represented by the Hindu Mahasabha; one third to the Islamic Waqf Board; and the remaining third to the Nirmohi Akhara. In December, the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha and the Sunni Waqf Board moved the suit to the Supreme Court, challenging the HC ruling.

2011

In May 2011, the Supreme Court stayed the High Court order to split the land, stating that the status quo would remain.

2014

In a landmark win, the BJP led by Narendra Modi stormed to power at the Centre in 2014.

2015

The VHP in 2015 announced a nationwide drive to collect stones for the construction of the Ram Mandir. Six months later, in December, two trucks of stones arrived at the disputed site. Mahant Nritya Gopal Das claimed there was a green signal for the temple to be built from the Modi government. However, the Uttar Pradesh government led by Akhilesh Yadav said it would not allow the arrival of the stones in Ayodhya for the construction of the Ram Mandir.

2017

The Supreme Court in March 2017 said charges against Advani and other leaders could not be dropped in the 1992 Babri mosque demolition case and that the case might be revived.

On March 21, 2017, the SC said the matter was sensitive and should be settled out of court. It asked stakeholders to hold talks and find an amicable solution. On April 19, 2017, the Supreme Court allowed CBI's appeal in Babri mosque demolition case and restored criminal conspiracy charge against L K Advani and other BJP leaders.