Tensions flared in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur district on Monday after members of a Hindu organisation vandalised a historical tomb, claiming it was originally a temple. The incident has prompted the district administration to deploy heavy police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) forces across the area, along with setting up barricades to prevent further escalation.

The dispute centres around the tomb of Nawab Abdus Samad, located in the Sadar tehsil area. The controversy began after the district president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that the structure, long recognised as a tomb, was a thousand-year-old temple dedicated to Thakur Ji and Lord Shiva. He cited the presence of a lotus carving and a trident (trishul) inside the premises as evidence of its Hindu origins.

After these claims, members of a Hindu organisation reportedly entered the tomb premises and damaged parts of the exterior area. According to local reports, the group also plans to conduct a pooja at the site, an act that could further inflame communal sensitivities in the region.

Official records, however, identify the disputed land, Khasra number 753,  as “National Property Maqbara Mangi,” marking it as a protected monument under government authority. The tomb’s status as a heritage site has been uncontested until now, but the recent allegations have triggered religious tensions and drawn attention to the monument’s history.

In response to the incident, authorities have taken strict security measures, deploying additional personnel to maintain order and prevent any further vandalism. Barricades have been erected around the site to stop gatherings and ensure no religious activity takes place that could spark violence. The situation remains tense as local leaders and community members await further statements from the administration. Officials are expected to investigate both the vandalism and the claims regarding the site’s origins.

Meanwhile, residents fear the controversy could spill over into wider unrest if not handled sensitively. The Fatehpur incident adds to a growing list of disputes in India involving claims that Muslim heritage structures were built over pre-existing Hindu temples, an issue that has frequently stirred communal tensions in recent years.