Sequence of events leading to Babri razing in Liberhan report

The following is the sequence of events in brief leading up to the razing of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya on Dec 6, 1992, as recorded in the Liberhan Commission report tabled in parliament Tuesday:

1528 - Founder of Mughal dynasty, Babar, asked his commander Mir Baqi to set up a mosque. It is claimed that it is constructed by demolishing the structure of the temple at the birth place of Lord Ram.

1767 - The report cites the BJP white paper quoting an Austrian Jesuit traveller as saying that Hindus had reoccupied the courtyard, raised the Ram chabutra and were worshiping.

1934 - Attempt by some Hindus to 'repossess' the structure, which has been locked since then. Dome was slightly damaged.

1949 - In December, a police post was established after some travellers coming to stay in Babri mosque were teased. FIR registered against 64 for setting up idols inside the structure.

1961 - Sunni Wakf Board staked its claim for possession of the disputed structure and adjoining land through a civil court.

1984 - Ram Janmabhoomi movement formally launched.

1989 - Shilanyas (ground-breaking for temple) performed.

1990 - Around 28,000 PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) personnel deployed in Ayodhya alone, but 40,000 karsevaks (volunteers) gathered around Ayodhya before Oct 30 and about 1,000 karsevaks managed to enter the city precincts.

The security forces tried to control the situation by firing, which led the Janambhoomi movement leadership to take a decision to postpone the kar seva till July 9, 1992.

1991 - On Oct 21, karsevaks climbed the dome - they were detected and removed along with flags.

1992 - On Dec 2, 60,000 karsevaks present in Ayodhya. Mazars and mosques in Ayodhya were damaged by karsevaks. But even then the administration took no steps to contain the crowd. District administration asked for more force, which request was declined by the state government.

By Dec 4, population of karsevaks had swelled to 200,000. (BJP leaders) L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi reached Ayodhya at midnight. District officials called upon them and were assured of a peaceful kar seva.

(Then Uttar Pradesh chief minister) Kalyan singh issued order against the use of firearms specifically on Dec 6.

Dec 6, 1992 - At 10.30 a.m., BJP and VHP leaders reached the platform meant for the puja (worship) and symbolic kar seva.

At 12.15 pm., a kar sevak vaulted onto the dome, followed by others wielding pick-axes, hammers, iron rods and shovels.

They entered the garbha grah (sanctum sanctorum) and took the idols and cash box to a safe place. Continuous brickbatting at the security forces gave ample cover to the karsevaks to assault the disputed structure.

First dome fell at 1.55 p.m.

Meanwhile, communal riots had commenced at Ayodhya at about 3.30 p.m. Karsevaks assaulted journalists and photographers present to cover the event.

In Delhi, a cabinet meeting called at 6.30 p.m. At 6.45 pm., (then) chief minister Kalyan Singh announced that he had resigned. At the structure, construction of temporary makeshift temple commenced at about 7.30 p.m.

Proclamation of imposition of President's Rule signed at 9.10 p.m.

The Liberhan Commission opined that the "security apparatus was non-existent in Ayodhya on sixth of December 1992".

Last updated on Nov 24^th, 2009 at 20:49 pm IST--IANS