Ancient swastikas found near Varanasi Gyanvapi mosque, survey stopped amid protests

While the survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi was halted on Saturday, videographers told Aaj Tak/India Today that the ancient traces of two swastikas (卐) were seen near the mosque.

The timeworn traces of two swastikas were seen near the Gyanvapi Masjid in the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex in Varanasi during the survey and videography exercise being carried out.

While the exercise was halted by the administration amid protests on Saturday, videographers on the court commissioner's team later told Aaj Tak that they came across the two faded but legible swastikas outside the mosque as they were conducting the survey. The swastikas were possibly drawn in ancient times, they said.

The videography and survey of some areas outside Gyanvapi Masjid was stopped on Saturday after the team of lawyers were denied entry inside the mosque due to protests by Muslim men.

Earlier in the day, a Varanasi court had ordered the continuation of videography and survey of areas outside Gyanvapi Masjid. Heavy police force was stationed in the area after a court-appointed official and a team of lawyers carried out an inspection near the area on Friday.

The survey is being done on the Varanasi district court’s order following a plea by Delhi-based women Rakhi Singh, Laxmi Devi, Sita Sahu and others seeking permission to worship Hindu deities whose idols are located on the outer wall of the Gyanvapi Masjid.

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Speaking to Aaj Tak/India Today, the petitioners’ lawyer Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi said there will be no survey of the mosque till the district court hears and passes order on a plea by the mosque management committee seeking the appointment of a different court commissioner to oversee the exercise.