Shahi Jama Masjid Survey: Stone Pelting, Arson In Sambhal; Police Resort To Lathi Charge, Tear Gas

Tension has been seething in Sambhal over the past few days after the Jama Masjid was surveyed last Tuesday on a local court's order.

Sambhal:Police resorted to lathi charge and used tear gas on protesters on Sunday in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal during protests against the survey of Mughal-era mosque, which the Hindu side claims to be the site of a temple.

Tensions prevailed in Sambhal since November 19 when a local court ordered a survey of the mosque while hearing a petition by the Hindu side claiming that the mosque stood at the site of a temple.

The survey report is scheduled to be presented in the court by November 26, while the next hearing will be on January 29.

As soon as the survey team reached the mosque on Sunday morning, the local Muslims protested the exercise and pelted stones at the team after which the police which was deployed at the spot resorted to lathi charge and fired tear gas shells at the protesters to disperse them.

Apart from Jama Masjid's head Zafar Ali, people associated with the mosque committee are also inside the Jama Masjid. A large number of police force led by SP Krishna Kumar Vishnoi along with DM Dr Rajendra Singh Pensia are camping in the area.

An official said that a second survey by an "Advocate Commissioner" ordered by the court began around 7 am and a crowd began gathering at the spot.

"Some miscreants came out of the crowd gathered near the site and pelted stones at the police team. The police used minor force and tear gas to bring the situation under control," Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Vishnoi said.

DGP UP Prashant Kumar said that "some anti-social elements have pelted stones" on the survey team leading to the violence.

"Police and senior officers are present on the spot. The situation is under control, the police will identify the stone pelters and take appropriate legal action," Kumar said.

He said those who engaged in stone pelting and those who incited them will be identified and action taken against them.

According to Moradabad Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, as soon as the team to conduct the survey arrived, some people gathered outside the mosque and pelted stones on the police force deployed at the spot.

"Police tried to disperse the crowd, and stone pelting on police started. The reason for this is still unknown. Police were able to control the situation at that time... In another area of Deepa Sarai where I was present, some young men started pelting stones on vehicles. Some of them have been detained," Singh said.

District Magistrate Rajendra Pesia said, "Some miscreants resorted to stone pelting but the situation is peaceful now and the survey is underway." Videos of youths throwing stones at police, purportedly near the site of the survey in Sambhal have surfaced on the Internet.

Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, who is also the petitioner in the case, had said the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) ordered the constitution of an "Advocate Commission" to survey the mosque.

The court has said that a report should be filed after conducting a videography and photography survey through the commission, he had said.

The Central and Uttar Pradesh governments, the mosque committee and the district magistrate of Sambhal have been made parties in the petition concerning the mosque, Jain said last Tuesday.

Vishnu Shankar Jain and his father Hari Shankar Jain have represented the Hindu side in many cases related to places of worship, including the Gyanvapi Mosque-Kashi Vishwanath temple dispute.

Gopal Sharma, a local lawyer for the Hindu side, told PTI on Friday that in his petition filed in the court, he mentioned that "Baburnama" and the "Ain-e-Akbari" has confirmed that a Harihar temple was at the site where the Jama Masjid now stands.

He also claimed that the temple was demolished by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1529.

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq had objected to the developments.

"The Jama Masjid of Sambhal is historical and very old. The Supreme Court had given the order in 1991 that whatever religious places are there in whatever condition since 1947, they will remain at their places," he had said.

On 22 November, about 3000 people attended the Friday congregational prayers inside the mosque in presence of a strong police force of many police stations, PAC and RRF.

Political Uproar

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday alleged the violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district over the survey of a mosque was "orchestrated" by the BJP, the government and the administration "to divert attention from electoral malpractice".

BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi warned of strict action against "those attempting to take the law into their own hands".

"Strict action will be taken against those attempting to take the law into their own hands. This is not the era of the Mughal Sultanate. If there is an objection to the court's order, one should appeal to a higher court. Some people lack faith in the Constitution. The judiciary's order will be enforced, and everyone must maintain peace and order," Tripathi said.

Former Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam claimed that the SP was behind the Sambhal violence after the party faced defeat in the UP by-polls.

"The leaders of Samajwadi party are freaked out after getting defeated in the UP by-polls...they are behind the violence in the Sambhal district...I would like to appeal to the Yogi Adityanath government and UP police to take action against those who are trying to insight violence here...," Krishnam said.

(With inputs from agencies)