<p>1853: First recorded incident of Hindu-Muslim violence over the site with Hindus alleging the mosque was built on the site of a razed Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Ram.<br />1859: British erect a fence and allow Muslims and Hindus to worship separately in the inner and outer courtyards. <br />1885: The dispute is dragged to court for the first time when Mahant Raghubar Das files a suit in a Faizabad court seeking permission to build a Ram temple adjoining the Babri mosque.<br />Dec 23, 1949: About 50 Hindus allegedly sneak in idols of Lord Ram in the mosque under the central dome. This leads to daily Hindu prayers at the site. Muslims stop offering namaz.<br />Jan 16, 1950: Gopal Singh Visharad files suit in Faizabad city court seeking exclusive rights to perform prayers for "Ram Lalla". He also seeks judicial restraint on the removal of idols.<br />Dec 5, 1950: Mahant Paramahans Ramchandra Das files suit to continue with the Hindu prayers and keeping the Ram idols at the Babri mosque, which he calls a "structure". <br />Dec 17, 1959: Nirmohi Akhara files suit seeking transfer of disputed site.<br />Dec 18, 1961: Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Board of Waqf files suit seeking possession of Babri mosque site.<br />1984: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) launches a campaign to open the locks of Babri mosque so as to "liberate" the birthplace of Ram and build a grand temple. <br />Feb 1, 1986: Faizabad district judge allows Hindus to worship at the site. Locks are re-opened. Angry Muslims set up Babri Mosque Action Committee in protest. <br />June 1989: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gives formal backing to VHP, giving renewed life to the temple movement.<br />July 1, 1989: Fifth suit filed in the name of Bhagwan Ram Lalla Virajman. <br />Nov 9, 1989: The Rajiv Gandhi government permits 'shilanyas', or ground-breaking ceremony near the Babri mosque. <br />Sep 25, 1990: BJP president L.K. Advani launcheS Rath Yatra - from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, raising passions all over the country. Communal riots follow.<br />November 1990: Advani arrested in Samastipur in Bihar. BJP withdraws support to Prime Minister V.P. Singh, whose government is propped by Left and BJP. V.P. Singh resigns.<br />October 1991: Kalyan Singh government in Uttar Pradesh acquires 2.77 acres of land around Babri mosque.<br />Dec 6, 1992: Thousands massed at Ayodhya demolish the Babri mosque, triggering widespread communal riots. A makeshift Ram temple is hurriedly built. Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao vows to rebuild the mosque.<br />Dec 16, 1992: M.S. Liberhan Commission set up to probe the circumstances leading to the mosque razing.<br />January 2002: Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee sets up an Ayodhya Cell in his office to talk to Hindu and Muslim leaders to resolve the dispute. <br />April 2002: Three high court judges begin hearings on determining who owns the Ayodhya site. <br />March-August 2003: Archaeological Survey of India excavates in Ayodhya on the directions of the Allahabad High Court. It claims to have found an evidence of a temple beneath the mosque. Muslims dispute the findings. <br />September 2003: A court rules that seven Hindu leaders should stand trial for inciting the mosque demolition. <br />October 2004: Advani reiterates the BJP's "unwavering" commitment to building a temple at Ayodhya. <br />July 2005: Suspected Islamic militants attack the site, using a jeep packed with explosives. Security forces kill five attackers. <br />June 2009: The Liberhan Commission submits report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh -- 17 years after its formation.<br />September 28 : Supreme Court gives go-ahead for Allahad High Court judgement on Sep 30, rejecting appeals for deferment.</p>
<p>1853: First recorded incident of Hindu-Muslim violence over the site with Hindus alleging the mosque was built on the site of a razed Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Ram.<br />1859: British erect a fence and allow Muslims and Hindus to worship separately in the inner and outer courtyards. <br />1885: The dispute is dragged to court for the first time when Mahant Raghubar Das files a suit in a Faizabad court seeking permission to build a Ram temple adjoining the Babri mosque.<br />Dec 23, 1949: About 50 Hindus allegedly sneak in idols of Lord Ram in the mosque under the central dome. This leads to daily Hindu prayers at the site. Muslims stop offering namaz.<br />Jan 16, 1950: Gopal Singh Visharad files suit in Faizabad city court seeking exclusive rights to perform prayers for "Ram Lalla". He also seeks judicial restraint on the removal of idols.<br />Dec 5, 1950: Mahant Paramahans Ramchandra Das files suit to continue with the Hindu prayers and keeping the Ram idols at the Babri mosque, which he calls a "structure". <br />Dec 17, 1959: Nirmohi Akhara files suit seeking transfer of disputed site.<br />Dec 18, 1961: Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Board of Waqf files suit seeking possession of Babri mosque site.<br />1984: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) launches a campaign to open the locks of Babri mosque so as to "liberate" the birthplace of Ram and build a grand temple. <br />Feb 1, 1986: Faizabad district judge allows Hindus to worship at the site. Locks are re-opened. Angry Muslims set up Babri Mosque Action Committee in protest. <br />June 1989: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gives formal backing to VHP, giving renewed life to the temple movement.<br />July 1, 1989: Fifth suit filed in the name of Bhagwan Ram Lalla Virajman. <br />Nov 9, 1989: The Rajiv Gandhi government permits 'shilanyas', or ground-breaking ceremony near the Babri mosque. <br />Sep 25, 1990: BJP president L.K. Advani launcheS Rath Yatra - from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, raising passions all over the country. Communal riots follow.<br />November 1990: Advani arrested in Samastipur in Bihar. BJP withdraws support to Prime Minister V.P. Singh, whose government is propped by Left and BJP. V.P. Singh resigns.<br />October 1991: Kalyan Singh government in Uttar Pradesh acquires 2.77 acres of land around Babri mosque.<br />Dec 6, 1992: Thousands massed at Ayodhya demolish the Babri mosque, triggering widespread communal riots. A makeshift Ram temple is hurriedly built. Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao vows to rebuild the mosque.<br />Dec 16, 1992: M.S. Liberhan Commission set up to probe the circumstances leading to the mosque razing.<br />January 2002: Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee sets up an Ayodhya Cell in his office to talk to Hindu and Muslim leaders to resolve the dispute. <br />April 2002: Three high court judges begin hearings on determining who owns the Ayodhya site. <br />March-August 2003: Archaeological Survey of India excavates in Ayodhya on the directions of the Allahabad High Court. It claims to have found an evidence of a temple beneath the mosque. Muslims dispute the findings. <br />September 2003: A court rules that seven Hindu leaders should stand trial for inciting the mosque demolition. <br />October 2004: Advani reiterates the BJP's "unwavering" commitment to building a temple at Ayodhya. <br />July 2005: Suspected Islamic militants attack the site, using a jeep packed with explosives. Security forces kill five attackers. <br />June 2009: The Liberhan Commission submits report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh -- 17 years after its formation.<br />September 28 : Supreme Court gives go-ahead for Allahad High Court judgement on Sep 30, rejecting appeals for deferment.</p>