3 Casualties in Sambhal violence. Muslims attack Police & Court Officers during Mosque survey.

Massive Violence Erupts in UP’s Sambhal Over Mosque Survey, Police Intervene,  3 Killed, Many Injured, NSA Likely On Rioters.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | Lucknow | Nov 24, 2024:: Violence erupted in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, early this morning, resulting in the deaths of three men and injuring several others. The clashes occurred after a court-appointed team arrived to survey the historic Jama Masjid mosque, which dates back to the Mughal era. Hindus claim it as a Harihar Temple upon which the Mosque was erected by Mughal king Babur.

According to reports, the family of one of the deceased claimed that he was killed in police firing. However, the official who confirmed two deaths declined to comment on this allegation. Sources say that Uttar Pradesh Police administrations contemplate provisions of NSA (National Security Act)  against the rioters.

Meanwhile, opposition parties have strongly criticized the Yogi government for the lawlessness in Sambhal, demanding accountability for the violence.

The  violent clashes erupted on Sunday morning as a team of surveyors arrived in Chandausi town to conduct a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. The local residents, angered by the survey, pelted stones at the police and officers, who were conducting the second survey of the mosque. The first survey had taken place on November 19.

The stone throwers, some of whom wore veils and carried sharp stones, attacked police and media personnel in the narrow lane leading to the mosque, which was littered with stones and slippers.

Watch: https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1860541506177896920

Watch: https://twitter.com/AmiSri/status/1860717949721436257

The situation  has taken a turn for the worse, with a crowd of protesters refusing to disperse despite appeals from the mosque’s loudspeakers. The protesters, who reportedly belong to nearby localities, are shouting anti-government and anti-police slogans, and even attacked Mohammed Sameer, a member of the aman (peace) committee, with a pointed stone.

Sambhal Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Bishnoi addressed the crowd, warning stone-throwers they’d face severe consequences, as their actions were being recorded. He urged them to refrain from violence, emphasizing that everyone involved would be arrested. Bishnoi also announced that Section 163 of the BNSS, prohibiting gatherings of over four people, was in effect, rendering the gathering near the mosque illegal. Incidents of stone pelting, arson, even attack on media compelled the police to resort to lathi charge, tear gas and alleged firing.

A local temple priest, Rishi Raj Giri, filed an application with a local court on November 19, requesting a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid mosque. Giri, who is the mahant of the Kalka Devi temple in Chandausi, claimed that a temple previously existed on the mosque’s site and was demolished by Muslim rulers to build the mosque in 1529.

Following a three-hour hearing, the court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) Aditya Singh ordered Advocate Commissioner Ramesh Chand Raghav to conduct an initial survey of the mosque site. The survey aims to determine whether a temple existed at the site, and the court has requested the survey report by November 29.
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__Inputs from ANI. PTI, and One India.