Court Orders Survey Of Jama Masjid In Sambhal Over Claim of Ancient Temple Site.

Hindus claim it as Harihar Temple, Sambhal Jama Masjid survey on, to end in 1 week: Court commissioner.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | Bareilly | Nov 20, 2024:: A contentious issue has arisen in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, where a civil judge ordered a survey of the Jama Masjid after a petition claimed it was originally an ancient Harihar Temple. Court Commissioner Ramesh Singh reported that a preliminary survey has been conducted with police and administrative cooperation. However, the mosque itself has not been measured yet, as Hindus assert it was once the Harihar Temple. The survey will be completed within a week under court order.

The survey process is ongoing, and the findings will be submitted to the court by November 29, the next scheduled hearing date. This development stems from a petition filed by Rishiraj Giri of Kela Devi Temple and five others, alleging that the mosque was built after Babur demolished the ancient temple.

The site of Sambhal Jama Masjid was officially declared a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act of 1904 and listed as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The mosque committee’s lawyer, Zafar Ali, described the petition as an “election stunt” and vowed to fight the order legally, stating that the mosque was built on vacant land by Mughal emperor Babur in 1529 and no temple symbols have been found there. During the survey, however, Muslims living in the area gathered outside the Jama Masjid and raised religious slogans against Hindus.

On the other hand, Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the plaintiffs, cited historical texts like the Baburnama to support the claim that Babur converted the Harihar temple into a mosque.

Jain claimed that Mughal emperor Babar partly demolished the temple in 1529.

“Today the Hon’ble Civil Court sambhal on my petition has directed survey by advocate commissioner in alleged jami masjid in sambhal which was known as hari har mandir. Babur partly demolished this place in 1529. It is believed that kalki avatar is to happen at sambhal” Jain posted on X on Nov 19, 2024.

This dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities in India, where Islamic Pandora boxes are opening  as a revelation of Islamic period when the Muslim rulers forcefully converted thousands of Hindu temples and worship places as Mosques or Islamic worship places in India.

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__Inputs from Agencies.