The Ayodhya case took a sudden twist on Tuesday with the Shia Waqf Board saying that a Ram temple can be built at the disputed site if a mosque is also constructed at a reasonable distance and in a Muslim-dominated area.

The development came three days before a crucial hearing in the Supreme Court on the case that has been a flashpoint between Hindus and Muslims since 1992.

Significantly, the Shias on Tuesday even called the disputed site as 'most revered place of birth of maryada puroshottam Ram'.

In 1992 a large 'group' of Hindus demolished the 16th century Babri Mosque in the UP city of Ayodhya after a political rally at the site turned violent

L.K. Advani addresses a rally on the day of demolition in 1992

But knives are already out within the Muslim community over this stand. In the affidavit filed before the apex court, the Shia Central Waqf Board said ever since it made its stand on the contentious issue clear, it has been receiving threats from Sunni hardliners.

The Ayodhya-Babri Masjid dispute In 1992 a large 'group' of Hindus demolished the 16th century Babri Mosque in the UP city of Ayodhya after a political rally at the site turned violent. The city is believed to be the birthplace of the Hindu god Rama and the mosque is believed to be built on Ram Janmabhoomi, the actual birthplace of the deity. On December 6 1992 the VHP and BJP organised a rally at the mosque and the 150,000-strong crowd overwhelmed security forces before tearing down the mosque. This came in a climate of inter-communal rioting between Hindus and Muslims that left at least 2,000 dead. A subsequent inquiry found that 68 people were responsible for the demolition, including leaders of the two political parties. The current Ayodhya dispute is a political and socio-religious debate in India concerning which religious group ought to possess the land. A 2010 landmark decision split the 2.77 hectare site equally between three parties - one Hindu, one Muslim, and one organisation trusted with maintaining the site. Advertisement

It said Uttar Pradesh's Yogi Adityanath government has been informed about the threat and steps were being taken to grant them protection.

Communal riots swept parts of India and Bangladesh, killing thousands of people in response to the destruction of the Babri mosque on December 6, 1992 by rampaging right-wing activists in Ayodhya.

According to Hindu campaigners, Lord Ram, one of the faith's most revered deities, was born on the site, and an 11th century temple stood there until it was destroyed by troops loyal to Babur, the Muslim conqueror and India's first Mughal emperor.

Taking the case out of a seven-year cold storage, the SC last Friday said it will be heard by a three-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra on August 11.

'Shia Central Waqf Board is of the view that closeness of place of worships that is masjid and mandir should be avoided as both denominations, using loudspeakers tend to disturb the religious performances of each other often leading to conflicts and acrimony.

'We are of the view that for a calming effect, the masjid can be located in a Muslim-dominated area at a reasonable distance from the most revered place of birth of maryada puroshottam Ram,' said the affidavit.

The Shias also argue that the Sunni Board has no stake in the case before the SC as the Allahabad HC had clearly come to the conclusion that Babri Masjid was a Shia property.

The Babri Masjid mosque was destroyed in 1992 by militant Hindu nationalist groups. The incident triggered riots all over India leading to over 2,000 deaths.

'The High Court in its judgment on September 30, 2010 had held that 'Muslims' should get not less than 1/3rd of the disputed area.

By saying 'Muslims', the High Court obviously meant 'Shias' since the High Court rejected the claim of Sunni Board that Babri Masjid was a Sunni Waqf,' said the affidavit.

Reminding them that the HC had (while ruling for a three-way division of the disputed 2.77 acres area at the site between Muslims, Nirmohi Akhara and the party representing 'Ram Lalla') advised that the litigating parties must amicably settle the issue, the Shia Board said it was ready for the compromise talks.

'In response to the opinion expressed by the court and considering the Muslim tenets of living in peace and harmony and respecting the religious sentiments of the Hindu community, we are ready and willing to initiate steps for a peaceful settlement of the case,' it said.

It urged the SC to appoint a committee headed by a retired judge of the top court, comprising two retired judges of the Allahabad HC and the UP CM or his nominee before whom all the parties will 'make suggestions and proposals for an amicable settlement'.

A three-judge Lucknow bench of the Allahabad HC had in September 2010 given a unanimous decision that Lord Ram was born under the central dome of the makeshift temple and Hindus have the right to worship there.

On an appeal by Muslim bodies, SC had stayed the implementation of the HC decision soon after. The case has remained in limbo ever since.

The appeals filed by the Sunni, Shia Waqf Boards and other parties five years ago challenge the September 30, 2010 verdict of the HC Lucknow bench.

The SC will next hear the matter on August 11.