Shrine of Sufi poet Baba Bulleh Shah vandalized by Hindutva group in Uttarakhand
Dehradun: The shrine of 18th-century renowned Sufi poet Syed Baba Bulleh Shah in Mussoorie in BJP-ruled Uttarakhand state was vandalized by Hindutva elements linked to the Hindu Raksha Dal.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the incident occurred at the Wynberg Allen Estate, where a group of approximately 25 to 30 people used hammers to damage the structures and property surrounding the shrine. Reportedly, the group chanted Hindu slogans like “Jai Shri Ram” during the attack, and a video of the incident has been circulated on social media.
Members of the Hindu Raksha Dal, who claimed responsibility for the attack, described the act as the removal of what they called an “illegal encroachment” on private school land. However, local Muslim committees and residents said the shrine was built with due permission and has long hosted peaceful Urs gatherings attended by devotees from multiple faiths.
The attack comes amid heightened tensions in the area after Lalit Sharma, the state president of the Hindu Raksha Dal, had earlier threatened that if the administration did not act, his organisation would demolish the dargah.
Baba Bulleh Shah, one of the most influential Sufi poets and philosophers of the the 18th century in the Punjab region, is widely celebrated for his poetry promoting love, tolerance and resistance to religious orthodoxy. His works continue to be revered across communities in both India and Pakistan.
Baba Bulleh Shah is buried in Kasur, Pakistan, where he spent most of his later life, and it remains a popular site for visitors and pilgrims.
