Lagatar24 Desk
Sambhal: Internet services have been suspended and schools closed after violent clashes over the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal left four people dead and 20 others injured, including police personnel. The violence erupted Sunday morning during a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque, which is at the center of a legal dispute over claims that it was built on a Hindu temple site.
Protesters set vehicles ablaze and hurled stones at police, prompting law enforcement to deploy tear gas and batons to control the mob. A critically injured constable is among the casualties. Authorities have detained 21 people, including two women, and initiated an investigation under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).
District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya confirmed that two deaths resulted from bullet wounds, while the cause of the third fatality will be clarified following a post-mortem examination. Internet services in Sambhal tehsil have been suspended for 24 hours, and schools for students up to Class 12 have been shut for November 25. Access to the area by outsiders or public representatives has been restricted until November 30.
Contentious Mosque Survey Sparks Violence
The Shahi Jama Masjid survey, conducted on court orders following a petition alleging that a Hindu temple once stood at the site, has inflamed tensions in Sambhal. Advocates for the Hindu petition claim the temple was demolished by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1529. While the survey faced initial disruptions, officials completed the process on Sunday, documenting findings through videography and photography.
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, a petitioner, confirmed that the survey report will be submitted to the court by November 29. Critics, however, argue that such actions provoke unrest and violate the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which upholds the sanctity of religious sites as they existed in 1947.
Political Reactions to the Violence
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav called for immediate Supreme Court intervention, alleging a conspiracy to disrupt social harmony under the pretext of the survey. Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai criticized the state government for failing to curb escalating violence.
In contrast, BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli defended the survey, emphasizing the need to respect judicial orders. “Nobody has the right to break the law. If there is disagreement with a court order, legal recourse is always available,” he stated.
The incident has further polarized political and social narratives in Uttar Pradesh, as tensions remain high in the region.
