The Crossbill News Desk
Tensions escalated at the historic Durgadi Fort in Kalyan on Saturday (June 7) after workers from both factions of the Shiv Sena attempted to reach the Durga temple atop the hill while Eid-ul-Azha prayers were being held at its base.
Police detained several protesters for violating prohibitory orders under Section 144, which had been imposed in anticipation of unrest, news agency PTI reported.
Both the Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, and the Shiv Sena faction headed by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, staged protests near the fort demanding access to the temple.
Supporters from both camps gathered at Shivaji Chowk, where they raised slogans calling for the “liberation of Durgadi Fort.” The demonstration included symbolic bell-ringing protests, asserting their religious and political claim over the fort premises.
Police had deployed a heavy security presence around Lal Chowki and the fort area, erecting barricades and restricting vehicular movement in the vicinity. Despite these measures, demonstrators from both sides tried to breach the police cordon.
“Repeated attempts were made to breach the police cordon. Shiv Sainiks tried to remove barricades, but our personnel resisted firmly and maintained order,” a senior police official told PTI.
As tensions mounted and entry was blocked, Shiv Sena workers performed an aarti (Hindu prayer ritual) at Lal Chowki. Police later detained several participants from both groups for defying orders and risking public order.
Authorities clarified that the fort was sealed off to prevent any potential confrontation between religious observances and political mobilisations.
“As the situation escalated and public order was at risk, we detained several protestors from both factions for violating the prohibitory orders under Section 144,” the official said.
The Durgadi Fort, which houses both a Hindu temple and disputed Muslim religious structures—including a mosque and an Eidgah—has been a flashpoint of communal and legal contention for decades.
The legal dispute dates back to 1976, when the Majlish-e-Mushavreen Majjid Trust filed a suit over prayer rights at the fort. While the mosque and Eidgah were used by the Muslim community until 1968, the Maharashtra government later leased the property to the Kalyan Municipal Council.
In December 2023, a civil court in Kalyan dismissed the trust’s claims, ruling in favour of the state government—an outcome that continues to stir local sentiments on both sides of the religious divide.
Police detained several protesters for violating prohibitory orders under Section 144, which had been imposed in anticipation of unrest, news agency PTI reported.
Both the Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, and the Shiv Sena faction headed by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, staged protests near the fort demanding access to the temple.
Supporters from both camps gathered at Shivaji Chowk, where they raised slogans calling for the “liberation of Durgadi Fort.” The demonstration included symbolic bell-ringing protests, asserting their religious and political claim over the fort premises.
Police had deployed a heavy security presence around Lal Chowki and the fort area, erecting barricades and restricting vehicular movement in the vicinity. Despite these measures, demonstrators from both sides tried to breach the police cordon.
“Repeated attempts were made to breach the police cordon. Shiv Sainiks tried to remove barricades, but our personnel resisted firmly and maintained order,” a senior police official told PTI.
As tensions mounted and entry was blocked, Shiv Sena workers performed an aarti (Hindu prayer ritual) at Lal Chowki. Police later detained several participants from both groups for defying orders and risking public order.
Authorities clarified that the fort was sealed off to prevent any potential confrontation between religious observances and political mobilisations.
“As the situation escalated and public order was at risk, we detained several protestors from both factions for violating the prohibitory orders under Section 144,” the official said.
The Durgadi Fort, which houses both a Hindu temple and disputed Muslim religious structures—including a mosque and an Eidgah—has been a flashpoint of communal and legal contention for decades.
The legal dispute dates back to 1976, when the Majlish-e-Mushavreen Majjid Trust filed a suit over prayer rights at the fort. While the mosque and Eidgah were used by the Muslim community until 1968, the Maharashtra government later leased the property to the Kalyan Municipal Council.
In December 2023, a civil court in Kalyan dismissed the trust’s claims, ruling in favour of the state government—an outcome that continues to stir local sentiments on both sides of the religious divide.
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