outlook Magazine, Dec 07, 2009
EXCLUSIVE cover story 1992 IB Reports
‘A Rehearsal Was Conducted...’
IB dispatches from Ayodhya belie the fact that the Centre was unaware of the crisis
by Chander Suta Dogra
If the Liberhan Commission has completely absolved anyone of responsibility for the Babri Masjid demolition on December 6, 1992, it is P.V. Narasimha Rao, the then prime minister, and the central government. In his 100-page conclusion, Justice M.S. Liberhan has devoted just one paragraph (160.9) to the role of the Centre which he says was crippled by the failure of the intelligence agencies in providing an analysis of the situation. Was the Narasimha Rao government really that uninformed about the ground realities at Ayodhya in the days leading up to the Babri demolition?
Outlook got exclusive access to secret reports from then prepared by top Intelligence Bureau officials, which were sent to the offices of the prime minister, then home minister S.B. Chavan and home secretary Madhav Godbole. These reports, sent on a daily basis, highlighted the grave situation unfolding in Ayodhya in the critical week before the demolition. The IB reports were also made available to the Liberhan Commission in 1994. But they don’t find any mention in the commission’s report. These IB dispatches clearly reveal that the Centre knew exactly what was happening at Ayodhya. Excerpts:
December 1, 1992
Status report by N.C. Padhi, joint director, IB (Para 5): “A report indicates the dispatch of a suicide squad trained in the use of firearms and explosives to Ayodhya from MP.... A meeting of Boudhik Manch started at 1015 hrs today near Sita Koop where speakers included Uma Bharati, Mahant Avaidyanath, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Acharya Dharmendra Dev and B.L. Sharma. Just before the start of the meeting, a group of four kar sevaks from Vidarbha went to the manch and enquired aggressively when they should blow up the Ram Janmabhoomi/Babri Masjid structure. Mahant Maharishi Tyagi said the structure should be removed before the construction of the temple and that too in a single stroke as such opportunities may not recur.” An indication of the impending demolition also came from a report about Murli Manohar Joshi’s speech at Mathura: “At Mathura he appealed to the gathering to assemble at Ayodhya in large numbers and for kar sevaks to demolish the so-called Babri Masjid.”
“Maharishi Tyagi said structure should come down in a single stroke...as such opportunities may not recur.”—N.C. Padhi, Jt Director, IB (Dec 1, ’92)
Padhi further noted: “Despite written advice by the Centre to regulate the number of visitors inside the shrine, this is not being done. Similarly, the number of people allowed to stay inside the complex is far too large for the inner cordon of policemen to handle without the use of strong force should they turn violent.”
Deputy director, IB, V. Rajagopal, also sent this input on the same day: “A procession of kar sevaks entered the RJB (Ramjanmabhoomi) complex singing songs, dancing and chanting slogans. They carried trishuls and lathis and raised provocative slogans.... The slogans were—Mandir ke nirman mein jo bhi ayega, Ramji ke samne jinda nahin jayega.”
December 2, 1992
Rajagopal’s report for the day: “Over one lakh kar sevaks are in Ayodhya and the movement of kar sevaks into the town continues. According to unconfirmed reports, balidan jathas (suicide squads) of young physically fit kar sevaks trained in handling firearms and explosives have been sent to Ayodhya from MP. They would remain around Ayodhya till December 5th and move into the town on December 6th. Besides protecting the kar sevaks against use of force on them by the security forces, they may also be utilised to demolish the disputed structure if the situation so warrants. Two ‘balidan jathas’ consisting of 10 sadhus each are reported to have left MP for Ayodhya who may sacrifice or self-immolate in case of confrontation between kar sevaks and security forces. A balidan jatha of 28 members is reported to have left from Aligarh on December 2.”
December 3, 1992
Rajagopal filed this input: “Reports from various quarters point to the possibility of miscreants smuggling explosives into the structure for triggering off a big explosion at the appropriate time. The DG of UP and dig of Faizabad have been apprised of the matter.”
Padhi’s intelligence inputs to Madhav Godbole, the then Union home secretary, talks of the cataclysmic situation that was unfolding in Ayodhya: “The kar sevaks were in a belligerent and aggressive mood and the atmosphere was surcharged. In the early hours of December 1, kar sevaks razed to the ground three graves in a dilapidated condition in the Ram Katha Kunj and set up a tea stall on the land. The district administration has erected a few wooden barricades inside the Ramjanmabhoomi complex...these barricades however are not strong enough to withstand pressure from a hostile and determined crowd.”
December 4, 1992
Padhi’s status report to the Union ministry of home affairs warned of inadequate security arrangements: “The continuing influx of people has further clogged the streets hampering movement of security forces and their vehicles. This hampers the response of the police in an emergency. The situation, logistics and mood and temper of the kar sevaks continues to be under tremendous strain.” Rajagopal also sent his assessment to the Union home minister and cabinet secretary: “The sale of trishuls has gone up and kar sevaks are moving in the town carrying them. One group of kar sevaks was carrying a spade and iron vessel to symbolise the resolve to do construction work. A lot of wall writings have come up in the night on the perimeter wall. These include “Talwar nikalenge mayan se, mandir banega shaan se. Duniya ki koi sarkar, Raghvendra ki sarkar se badi nahin.”
December 5, 1992
Reporting about the status on December 5, Padhi noted, “Congregation of kar sevaks at Ayodhya has swelled to 2 lakh of which 60,000 are at Ram Katha Kunj. The security arrangements are adequate up to the point where the large congregation is expected to maintain order and discipline. In case of a determined bid to violate the standing orders of the court the security arrangements would not meet the requirements of the situation.”
“Balidan jathas (suicide squads) have left MP for Ayodhya...they may sacrifice in case of a confrontation.”—V. Rajagopal, Dy Director, IB (Dec 2, ’92)
V. Rajagopal’s assessment should have been cause for alarm: “It is learnt that the organisers have decided to accommodate kar sevaks at Rudauli, Dariyabad and Suhawal near Faizabad to obstruct movement of paramilitary forces if and when they do so, by lying down on the roads.” And in paragraph 16 of his report, Rajagopal reports a telling incident: “A rehearsal was conducted in the Ram Katha Kunj on the procedure for the kar seva tomorrow. It is learnt that kar sevaks from various states would line up in two columns. Kar sevaks from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan would queue up in the left column in rows of 15 each. Kar sevaks from AP would be given first opportunity for kar seva.” In paragraph 19, he further notes: “Murli Manohar Joshi, addressing a public meeting at Shahjahanpur on December 4 and at Unnao on December 5, warned that since majority of kar sevaks at Ayodhya are from Andhra Pradesh and south India, if the kar seva is obstructed at the instance of the Centre, they would turn against the PM (who was from Andhra Pradesh).”
Quite evidently, both Narasimha Rao then, and Justice Liberhan later, turned a blind eye to these vital inputs which clearly reveal that the Centre was warned of the possibility of things going out of hand and the masjid being demolished
|
