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The chief litigant in the Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid case and the sarpanch mahant (chief priest) of the Nirmohi Akhada in Ayodhya, Mahant Bhaskar Das, passed away on Saturday. He was 89 years old.
With his death, both the chief litigants in the case from the Hindu and Muslim sides have passed away. The other litigant, Hashim Ansari, died in July 2016.
Despite being rival litigants, both of them shared close and cordial friendship with each other.
Das had been keeping unwell for a long time. He was admitted to Harshan Heart Institute in Faizabad on Wednesday night after having severe breathing problems. He breathed his last on early Saturday morning.
His body has been placed at the Naka Hanuman Gadhi for people to pay tributes. The mortal remains will be cremated on the banks of the Saryu river in Ayodhya.
In 1959, Nirmohi Akhada’s mahant, Raghunath Das, had filed a case claiming Ram Janmbhoomi. At that time, Bhaskar Das also joined the case and filed the claim.
After the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad HC gave a verdict in the case on 30 September 2010, Bhaskar filed a petition in the Supreme Court for ownership of the entire Ramjanmbhoom premises. The case is still going on, and now after Bhaskar Das’ demise, his disciple mahant, Ram Das, is likely to take over as the litigant.