{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "West Bengal Adina Masjid Dispute Escalates As Outfits Prepare To Install Massive Shivling Near Malda Monument",
  "summary": "A major dispute has erupted over the 650-year-old Adina Masjid in West Bengal's Malda. Claiming the monument stands on the remains of the ancient Adinath Temple, a Hindu group is preparing to install a massive Shivling outside the premises.",
  "content": "The historical landscape of West Bengal is currently witnessing a major confrontation as a massive dispute unfolds over the 650-year-old Adina Masjid located in the Malda district. Echoing the prominent temple-mosque contentions of northern India, particularly in Mathura and Kashi, a local Hindu organization has asserted that this medieval monument was constructed after demolishing a revered ancient Shiva temple. With plans underway to install a massive stone Shivling right outside the monument's boundaries, the local administration has stepped up security measures to prevent any unauthorized religious activities at the nationally protected site.\n\nThe Historical Significance of Adina Masjid and the Rising Dispute\nSituated in the Pandua area of Malda, the Adina Masjid is widely recognized as one of the most significant architectural wonders of medieval India. According to records maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), this grand structure was built in 1373 AD by Sultan Sikandar Shah, who ruled the Bengal Sultanate. The mosque holds a distinct position in history as the largest mosque ever constructed not only in medieval India but across the entire Indian subcontinent. Today, the monument is protected as a site of national importance, and under regular circumstances, no religious congregations or daily prayers are held within its walls.\n\nHowever, the peace surrounding this historic site has been disrupted by claims from several Hindu groups and political figures. These groups argue that the colossal mosque was built using the debris and pillars of an ancient temple known as the Adinath Temple, which was dedicated to Lord Shiva. They claim that the structural layout still bears unmistakable signs of its pre-Islamic origins, which has now catalyzed a public movement to reclaim the site.\n\nThe Shivling Installation Plans and Legal Strategies\nThe movement is being spearheaded by an organization named the 'Adinath Puratan Shiv Mandir'. The group has organized a major event to bring a massive Shivling, which stands 3.6 feet tall and weighs approximately 1.5 tons, all the way from Tarakeswar in the Hooghly district. The organization intends to install this sacred symbol outside the main gates of the protected monument on Monday.\n\nThe chief patron of this organization, Kajal Goswami, who also serves as the convener of the BJP's North Bengal Good Governance Wing, has laid out a clear strategy for the movement. Goswami claims that the mosque's premises contain clear remnants of ancient Hindu and Buddhist sculptures, including a Shivling and various traditional motifs. He stated that the organization is preparing to file a petition in the Calcutta High Court to seek an official ASI investigation into the site's history. The ultimate goal of the group is to establish the presence of the original temple and eventually reconstruct it within the complex. Despite these ambitious plans, Goswami emphasized that his followers will abide by the law and do not intend to cause any law-and-order disruptions.\n\nStrict Administrative Stance and Legal Boundaries\nIn response to the growing mobilization, both the local police administration and the Archaeological Survey of India have adopted an uncompromising position. Following meetings between ASI officials and representatives of the Hindu organization, authorities have made it clear that no religious rituals or gatherings of any kind will be permitted inside the boundaries of the protected monument.\n\nThe Malda police department has issued a strict advisory, particularly in light of various messages circulating on social media networks. The police department pointed out that the Adina Masjid complex is strictly protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958. This national legislation strictly prohibits any unauthorized religious ceremonies or modifications within protected historic properties. The local administration has warned that anyone attempting to breach these regulations or disturb the peace will face severe legal consequences. To ensure security, additional police forces have been deployed around the monument, and the ASI has increased its on-site security personnel to monitor the situation closely.\n\nNational Political Implications and Ayodhya Parallels\nThe controversy surrounding the Malda monument is no longer a local affair; it has quickly escalated into a national political talking point. The issue first gained major national attention on December 5, 2025, when Samik Bhattacharya, a member of the Rajya Sabha and the current West Bengal BJP President, raised the matter on the floor of the Parliament. Bhattacharya argued that historical evidence and local traditions strongly suggest that the mosque was built using materials from pre-existing Hindu and Buddhist places of worship. He requested the central government and the ASI to conduct a comprehensive scientific investigation to uncover the historical truth of the complex.\n\nFurther elevating the political temperature, Rahul Sinha, another Rajya Sabha MP and the former West Bengal BJP President, compared the Adina Masjid dispute directly to the historic Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid conflict in Ayodhya. Sinha asserted that the sentiments of millions of Hindu devotees are deeply connected to the ancient Adinath Temple. He claimed that visitors can still see images of Hindu deities carved into the stone walls, some of which are allegedly positioned in an inverted manner, reflecting a history of deliberate temple destruction. He called for a transparent historical inquiry, stating that the public deserves to know the real history of the 650-year-old structure.\n\nWhat this means for you\n• Across India: Security agencies around historically protected monuments may tighten surveillance following rising communal claims over heritage sites.\n• In West Bengal: Heavy deployment of police and administration forces in Malda could result in temporary local movement restrictions to maintain law and order.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Where is the Adina Masjid located and what is its historical significance?\nThe Adina Masjid is situated in Pandua, Malda district of West Bengal. It is historically recognized as the largest mosque in the entire Indian subcontinent from the medieval era.\n\n2. Who built the Adina Masjid and when was it constructed?\nThe mosque was built in 1373 AD by Sultan Sikandar Shah of the Bengal Sultanate.\n\n3. What claims are being made by Hindu organizations regarding the Adina Masjid?\nHindu organizations claim that the mosque was built after demolishing an ancient 'Adinath Temple' dedicated to Lord Shiva, and that remnants of Hindu and Buddhist deities are still present in the structure.\n\n4. What is the administration's stance on the planned installation of the Shivling?\nThe Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and local police have clarified that no unauthorized religious activity is permitted inside the protected monument, which is covered under the Ancient Monuments Act of 1958. Strict legal action will be taken against violators.\n\n5. How have political leaders reacted to the Adina Masjid dispute?\nBJP leaders, including Rajya Sabha MPs Samik Bhattacharya and Rahul Sinha, have compared the dispute to the Ayodhya issue and demanded a formal ASI investigation into the historic site.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/national/west-bengal-men-adina-masjid-ko-lekara-vivada-gaharaya-malda-smaraka-ke-bahara-vishala-shivling-sthapita-karane-ki-taiyari-10437",
  "category": "India",
  "publishedAt": "2026-07-25",
  "tags": [
    "Adina Masjid",
    "Malda",
    "West Bengal",
    "Adinath Temple",
    "ASI",
    "Communal Dispute"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}