On Sunday, in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, tensions flared during the survey of Jama Masjid, resulting in the tragic loss of four lives. Rioters attacked the police with stones, setting seven vehicles ablaze. Twenty police officers and four administrative staff were also injured. Schools in the district were closed, and internet access was suspended. Entry for outsiders was restricted as well.
What is the dispute surrounding the Sambhal Mosque, and what are the arguments from both sides? What order did the court give, and what unfolds next?
Find answers to all your questions...
What happened in Sambhal yesterday?
Responding to a local court order, a survey team led by the Advocate Commissioner descended upon the royal mosque early Sunday morning. News of the survey brought a crowd to the mosque, and some attempted to forcefully enter the premises.
Allegations claim that when the survey concluded at 11 AM, the crowd surrounded the team, initiating chaos. Pushes and shoves followed, with rioters pelting stones at the police and survey team, and starting fires. Police took charge, firing warning shots and tear gas to disperse the mob. Reports suggest gunfire from within the crowd.
What is the current situation in Sambhal?
Internet services in Sambhal have been halted for 24 hours, with a potential extension. The district administration declared a holiday for schools up to 12th grade until Monday. Markets remain closed, but no further incidents have been reported since the morning unrest. Police from 30 stations within the Moradabad range are deployed in Sambhal.
What caused the violence?
The controversy roots from the claim that the Sambhal Mosque was originally a Harihar Temple. On November 19, senior advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain filed a motion in the Sambhal civil court, presenting the mosque as a Hindu temple. The court appointed an Advocate Commissioner on Tuesday and ordered a survey within seven days. The team conducted videography in the first phase and returned for further surveying on Sunday morning.
Source: aajtak
Prior claims by Kailadevi Temple Mahant, Rishiraj Giri Maharaj, suggested that the royal mosque was constructed on Emperor Babur's orders, replacing a Hindu temple. He petitioned for a civil court survey.
Who was on the survey team?
The survey team included Advocate Commissioner Ramesh Raghav. From the petitioner's side, advocates Vishnu Shankar Jain and Gopal Sharma participated. Representing the central government was advocate Vishnu Sharma. The team visited with the president of the mosque committee, under strict barricades, for the survey in the presence of the DM and SP, capturing videography.
What directions did the court give?
On November 19, the civil judge of the Senior Division court emphasized the need to hear the government of India's side before passing any order, as the government is a party to the case. The court instructed sending notices to the government and other parties to present their sides, leading to an informed decision. The court instructed that the Advocate Commissioner visit the site and prepare a report, to be submitted within the stipulated time. Given the sensitivity of the issue, videography and photography were mandated. Provision of police forces at the site was ensured by the DM and SP.
What action has the police taken now?
According to Muniraj, DIG of the Moradabad range, 21 people have been detained, including two women. Further questioning is ongoing. The police mentioned that those found guilty will face arrest and court proceedings. CCTV footage is aiding in identifying the crowd's participants. Multiple teams have been formed for the arrest of rioters, working overnight, seizing illegal weapons and ammunition. The police assured that the rioters would soon be arrested and face strict action.
Source: aajtak
In response to stone-pelting incidents, the sub-divisional magistrate issued notices forbidding citizens from stockpiling stones, bottles, or any flammable or explosive materials on their rooftops, warning of strict action if violated. The municipal council received orders to seize any construction materials left on streets.
Outside access has been curtailed by the district administration, as per the DM's order, sealing the city's borders for outsiders until December 1. The case has also reached the National Human Rights Commission. All educational institutions within the tehsil area remain closed.
What did the administration communicate?
Anjaney Kumar Singh, the commissioner of Moradabad division, shared details of the three-pronged attack by the rioters during the violence: frontal, left-side, and right-side maneuvers. Police promptly evacuated the survey team, using plastic bullets and tear gas to control the situation. Weapons and arms seized from detained individuals' homes included firearms found at a residence in the Nakhusa police station area, where two women were taken into custody. Charges under the National Security Act (NSA) will be pursued for violence instigators. The administration noted the crowd instigation, striving to identify the provocateurs, while urging citizens to maintain peace.
Who were the casualties in the violence?
The violence claimed the lives of four individuals: Naeem, Bilal, Nauman, and Mohammed Kaif. Late into the night, all four were laid to rest. Two succumbed to bullets from locally-made pistols, while post-mortems of the third and fourth victims are pending further clarity.
Who were injured?
Sambhal's SP confirmed that their PRO sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. The deputy collector suffered a leg fracture, and a constable received a head injury. Police officers sustained shrapnel injuries, totaling 20 police personnel wounded, alongside four senior officials.
Source: aajtak
What did the Muslim side articulate?
Maulana Mahmood Madani, president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, expressed his dissatisfaction and sorrow over the violence. He stated that Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind does not support violence by any faction or rioter. However, he condemned the harsh police response as unjust and discriminatory, leading to innocent casualties. Former Moradabad MP Dr. S.T. Hasan voiced his disagreement with the court's survey decision, emphasizing that the Places of Worship Act 1991 prohibits altering any religious site existing before August 15, 1947. The survey order, in his view, violates the Act. He questioned the need for the survey, considering the Jama Masjid's 500-year-standing.
What did the Hindu side assert in their plea?
The plea filed in the civil judge's court encompasses 95 pages, asserting that Lord Kalki is to be born in Sambhal. Various evidence suggests that the mosque's construction involved dismantling the Harihar Temple. The plea argues that only through a survey can the truth be unveiled. Unauthorized usage by the mosque committee is claimed.
Petitioner and Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain explained that the civil judge (senior division) ordered forming an Advocate Commissioner for the mosque's survey. The court mandated videography and photography through the Commissioner to obtain a report.
Jain urged the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Sunday to take control of the contentious site. Local Hindu attorney Gopal Sharma reiterated claims of a temple being destroyed by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1529 at the current site.
Source: aajtak
'Children were used as shields...
Morarabad Range DIG Muniraj reported that the survey was conducted following court orders. Police forces were present on-site, and some individuals attempted to use children as shields against police stone-pelting. The police managed to control the situation, appealing for calm. Rioters set vehicles on fire, prompting the police to use riot guns and tear gas to disperse them. Authorities stated that 20 officers were injured. The situation now remains under control, with 20 arrests made.
Investigating conspiratorial angles
SP Krishnakumar Bishnoi noted maintaining control of the situation with additional forces deployed. Internet services were suspended for a day to avoid misinformation. Initial attacks led police to respond and control crowds. During daytime patrols by the DM and DIG, two women attacked with stones and locally-manufactured firearms, an extremely unfortunate event. Charges under NSA are being filed, and FIRs were registered. Mobile devices of detainees are inspected to verify any plots.
