The Napier plan far exceeded the strategic necessity and was implicitly directed more against the Muslim community who had been far more active in the mutiny in Lucknow.

The two main sacred targets were Jami Masjid and the Asafi Imambara.

Asafi Imambara was strategically important and could be fortified to command the northern frontier and to shelter an entire regiment.

The fortification of Jami Masjid was however not justifiable because it could not sustain more than 100 soldiers and was only 800 yards away from the next post.

Shiite Muslims were deeply riled by the use of Asafi Imambara as regimental barracks as it was the tomb of their beloved nawab. British troops ate pork, swilled alcohol, trampled the sacred hall in regimental boots, and manifested every other kind of contempt for the religion of the old rulers of the province."