Last Mughal emperor's mural vandalised at Ghaziabad station, sparks outrage

A mural of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor, displayed at the Ghaziabad railway station was vandalised on Friday by alleged members of the Hindu Raksha Dal.

The vandals mistakenly believed it to be a portrait of the controversial 17th-century ruler Aurangzeb.

The group reportedly defaced the mural by spraying black paint over it, claiming it was a protest against what they described as Aurangzeb’s historical atrocities. Pinki Chaudhary, president of the Hindu Raksha Dal, defended the act, stating, “Why should images of a man like Aurangzeb, who destroyed temples and oppressed our people, be displayed in public? The youth are aware and will not tolerate such glorification.”

However, officials later clarified that the image in question was of Bahadur Shah Zafar, a vastly different historical figure known for his symbolic leadership in the 1857 revolt against British colonial rule.

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has filed a case under Sections 147 (unauthorised entry on railway premises) and 166 (defacement of railway property) of the Railways Act. Authorities are currently investigating to identify the perpetrators.

Speaking about the incident, Divisional Railway Manager Rupesh Raman Tripathi confirmed that the portrait was indeed of Bahadur Shah Zafar. “He played a significant role during the 1857 rebellion. This act of vandalism is unacceptable. No one has the right to damage public property,” he stated.

An FIR has been registered against unidentified individuals, and an inquiry is underway. S S Gabrayal, Chief Officer of the RPF, added that the Railways would act swiftly once those responsible are identified.