Hindutva goons demolish historic Shamshir Khan tomb in Bihar
Tomb destruction a deliberate attempt to erase Muslim history: Social activist
Patna: In the Aurangabad district of Bihar, Hindutva goons have vandalized the historic Shamshir Khan tomb, reducing it to rubble, even though it is listed as a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
According to Kashmir Media Service, the demolition of the tomb has sparked outrage and grief among Muslims in the area. The goons also destroyed the graves of Shamshir Khan and his wife.
Wasim Aurangabadi, a well-known social activist from Shamsher Nagar, called the incident “deeply painful” and blamed official neglect. “This work has been carried out inside a protected historical building. This is not just damage to stones; it is an attack on our history,” he said. He further expressed that his father, the famous poet Nishad Aurangabadi, often visited the tomb to offer prayers. He described it as deeply saddening that the tomb of a person who never harmed anyone was destroyed.
The tomb complex, located on the main Patna–Aurangabad Road, had also been listed as a tourist site by the Bihar government. Despite this status, locals say the monument was left without proper care or round-the-clock security.
“There were repeated requests to protect this place, but nobody listened,” Wasim Aurangabadi said. He added that his father, the noted poet Nashad Aurangabadi, often visited the tomb. “Shamsher Khan never fought his own people. To see the graves of such a man and his wife smashed like this feels like an attempt to erase memory itself,” he said.
Another activist, Mushtaq Hussain of Shamsher Nagar, echoed the charge of neglect. “We kept asking for maintenance and security. The result is in front of everyone,” he said.
For Indian Muslims, the demolition has reopened fears about the safety of Muslim historical sites. They say the failure to act, even after warnings, shows a pattern where Muslim heritage is left exposed, unguarded and easy to attack.
Shamsher Khan, whose real name was Ibrahim Khan Qureshi, served the region as a Faujdar and was known for maintaining peace. He later received the title of Shamsher Khan and was a close associate of the Mughal prince Azim-ul-Shan. In 1702, he was appointed Subedar of Bihar and was later martyred while fighting alongside the prince. He was buried in Shamsher Nagar, the settlement he established.
