Baba Lal Das was first ever Mahant (Chief Hindu Priest) of the idols of the deity Rama placed within the Babri Masjid complex in Ayodhya.
[17][13][4] In an interview with human rights lawyer Flavia Agnes, he moreover accused that huge sums of money collected in the name of Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, were later embezzled by various political leaders of upper caste origins, for their personal gain.
[4] Lal Das was illegally removed from his position by the Uttar Pradesh government led by Kalyan Singh of Bharatiya Janata Party in 1st March 1992, because he was extremely critical of the entire Ram Mandir Movement[19] and was ultimately replaced by the priest of their own choosing like Satyendra Das, who was more acquiescent to BJP party leaders directives.
[3][9][13] After receiving multiple death threats, Lal Das sought police protection from the Kalyan Singh government, but his appeal was denied.
[8][14] On 16 November 1993, Lal Das was shot dead in the middle of the night in Ranipur Chattar village, 20 km from Ayodhya while he was performing ablution, under sceptical circumstances.