Ayodhya firing incident

The Uttar Pradesh police opened fire at members of the Sangh Parivar, a group of Hindutva organisations led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a right-wing Hindutva paramilitary organisation, who were heading to demolish the five-century-old Babri Masjid. The firings occurred on two separate days, 30October 1990 and 2November 1990, in the aftermath of the Ram Rath Yatra. The Karsevaks had assembled near the Babri Masjid. The state government's official records report that at least 17 people were killed.

Background

In September 1990, Vishva Hindu Parishad, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and the Shiv Sena started an official campaign for the Ram Temple to be rebuilt at the Ram Janmabhoomi site. The situation became volatile, with L. K. Advani conducting Ram Rath Yatra, a religious and political rally, and the VHP mobilizing people to the site. The state government, under Mulayam Singh Yadav, promised protection and a complete lockdown of the site and city. Yadav reassured the public: "No bird would be able to fly into Ayodhya".

Timeline

21 October 1990

Karsevaks first assembled in Ayodhya at the behest of L. K. Advani of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Ashok Singhal of the VHP, on 21October 1990.

30 October 1990

At around 11am, a Hindu holyman or sadhu managed to gain control of an Armed Constabulary bus in which the police were holding detainees. The sadhu drove the bus right through the barricades, clearing a way for the others to follow on foot. The security forces were caught off guard and were forced to chase about 5,000 karsevaks, who stormed through the heavily guarded site. According to eyewitnesses the Kothari brothers mounted a saffron flag atop the Babri Masjid.

Aftermath

Various news media covered the incident.
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mulayam Singh lost the 1991 election to the Bharatiya Janata Party. After that, in the 4 December 1993 election, Mulayam Singh Yadav became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh with the help of Kanshi Ram. He described his decision to fire on the crowd in Ayodhya as "painful yet necessary as it was ordered by the high court to maintain peace, law and order till the judgement come out."