Devotees install massive Shivling near historic Adina Mosque in Malda

Members of Hindu organizations and numerous devotees gathered in West Bengal's Malda district to install a 3.6-foot-high, 1.5-tonne Shiva Lingam at a temple located near the 14th-century ASI-protected Adina Mosque. Organizers from the Adinath Puratan Shiv Mandir committee stated that the installation aligns with annual Shravan month rituals and is being conducted in compliance with legal directions. To prevent any law and order disruptions during the large-scale gathering, the district administration deployed heavy police security across the area.

The event has revived a long-running dispute over the monument, with Hindu groups and BJP leaders claiming that the current mosque was built over an ancient Adinath Shiva Temple and housing surviving Hindu motifs. The organizers clarified that while they ultimately seek court permission to place the Shiva Lingam inside the protected monument, they will adhere strictly to legal procedures and avoid unlawful activities. In response to social media reports regarding the event, Malda police issued a public advisory reminding citizens that the site is protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

Superintendent of Police Anupam Singh confirmed that the annual worship takes place at a separate temple roughly 50 to 60 meters away from the mosque complex and adequate measures are in place to ensure peace. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) continues to officially recognize the 1373 CE structure as the Adina Mosque, built by Sultan Sikandar Shah. While architectural historians attribute the presence of Hindu imagery on the basalt walls to the medieval practice of reusing older building materials, legal petitions regarding the site's historical identity remain active in the Calcutta High Court.