Sambhal:

A 15-member delegation from the Samajwadi Party (SP) was barred from entering Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal today, prompting a sharp response from party chief Akhilesh Yadav. The team, tasked with investigating recent violence at the Shahi Jama Masjid, was formed under the leadership of UP state assembly LoP Mata Prasad Pandey. 

The Sambhal district administration issued a directive banning the entry of outsiders until December 10. District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya stated, “No outsider, any social organisation or any public representative can enter into the borders of the district without seeking the permission of the competent authority till December 10.”

This measure came against the backdrop of violent clashes in Sambhal on November 24, following a court-mandated survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. Protesters opposing the survey clashed with security forces, leading to stone pelting, arson, and the deaths of several individuals. 

READ | 16th Century Mosque, A City On Fire: Sambhal Violence Explained

Reacting strongly to the situation, Akhilesh Yadav took to social media to condemn the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government. Mr Yadav accused the government of administrative failure and alleged that the BJP was attempting to shield its negligence.

“Imposing a ban is a failure of the BJP government’s governance, administration and government management. If the government had imposed such a ban earlier on those who dreamed of causing riots and made people raise frenzied slogans, the atmosphere of harmony and peace in Sambhal would not have been spoiled,” Mr Yadav wrote.

प्रतिबंध लगाना भाजपा सरकार के शासन, प्रशासन और सरकारी प्रबंधन की नाकामी है। ऐसा प्रतिबंध अगर सरकार उन पर पहले ही लगा देती, जिन्होंने दंगा-फ़साद करवाने का सपना देखा और उन्मादी नारे लगवाए तो संभल में सौहार्द-शांति का वातावरण नहीं बिगड़ता।

भाजपा जैसे पूरी की पूरी कैबिनेट एक साथ… pic.twitter.com/7ouboVnQu4

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) November 30, 2024

He also demanded the suspension of the entire administrative machinery in Sambhal for “negligence and conspiracy.”

Mata Prasad Pandey claimed that both the Home Secretary Sanjay Prasad and Sambhal District Magistrate contacted him, requesting that he postpone the trip.

“They (administration) should have given me a notice as per the rules that I cannot go there, but no written notice was given. They only talk on the telephone. They deployed the police. The Justice Commission is going there, media people are going there, will there be any unrest if we go there? This government is deliberately stopping us to hide all its work,” Mr Pandey said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

The SP delegation initially planned to visit Moradabad before heading to Sambhal, intending to meet victims of the violence and their families. However, these plans were derailed as police refused to allow them to leave Mr Pandey’s residence.

Samajwadi Party state president Shyam Lal Pal echoed Mr Pandey’s claims, stating that the delegation intended to compile a detailed report on the incident for submission to party chief Akhilesh Yadav. The team included high-profile members such as Legislative Council leader Lal Bihari Yadav, MPs Ziaur Rahman Barq, Harendra Malik, and others.

Ziaur Rahman Barq faces charges related to the violence, accused of committing “provocative acts.” Despite this, the Samajwadi leadership maintained that their visit was essential for ensuring transparency and accountability.

Congress state president Ajay Rai has also announced plans for a party delegation to visit the district on December 2.

Amidst the political fallout, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has formed a three-member judicial commission to investigate the violence. Retired Justice Devendra Kumar Arora of the Allahabad High Court will lead the probe.

New Delhi:

Over 30 years since the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, another mosque in Uttar Pradesh finds itself at the epicentre of a contentious debate. A court-ordered survey of the 16th-century Jama Masjid, a Mughal-era mosque, in Moradabad’s Sambhal, led to multiple deaths, arrests and a riot that brought the city to a grinding halt.

The Jama Masjid in Sambhal was built during the reign of the first Mughal emperor, Babur, between 1526 and 1530, and was one of the three major mosques constructed during his brief but impactful rule. The other two are the mosque at Panipat and the now-demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.

According to historical reports, the mosque’s construction was supervised by Hindu Beg Qucin, one of Babur’s trusted lieutenants, in December 1526. Its architectural style mirrors the era’s evolving Mughal design, featuring a large square hall with a central dome. Persian inscriptions within the mosque confirm its Mughal origins, though some historians claim remnants of pre-existing Hindu temples were integrated into its construction.

Sambhal itself holds religious significance for Hindus, as the purported birthplace of Kalki, the tenth and final avatar of Vishnu. According to Hindu scriptures, Kalki is destined to appear in Sambhal to end the Kalyug (age of darkness). Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the grand Kalki Dham, calling for “Ram Rashtra” and claiming that “Kalki’s avatar will determine the course of thousands of years.”

Sambhal’s spiritual history – with different faiths overlapping each other in history – forms the crux of the current legal and ideological battle.

The Legal Dispute

The controversy erupted when a petition was filed in Sambhal by advocate Vishnu Shanker Jain and others. Mr Jain, also known for his involvement in the Gyanvapi Mosque and Krishna Janmabhoomi disputes, claimed that the Jama Masjid was built on the ruins of a temple dedicated to Lord Kalki. The petition alleged that the mosque was constructed after the destruction of the temple during Babur’s invasion in 1526-27. The petitioners argue that historical texts such as “Baburnamah” and “Ain-e-Akbari” document the destruction of the temple by Babur.

The plea claims that the temple was built by the Hindu mythological figure Vishwakarma at the beginning of the universe. Babur’s forces allegedly destroyed the temple partially and converted it into a mosque to establish Islamic supremacy. The petition further criticises the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for failing to take control of the site, as it is a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

The petitioners demand unrestricted access to the mosque for Hindus, claiming their right to worship was being unlawfully denied.

The Survey And Its Fallout

In response to the petition, the court ordered a survey of the mosque on November 19, 2024. Advocate Commissioner Ramesh Raghav, along with the district administration and police, carried out the survey the same day. This rapid action drew criticism from several quarters, with claims of judicial overreach and procedural irregularities.

The Muslim community, including the Jama Masjid management committee, strongly opposed the survey. They pointed to the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which prohibits altering the status of any religious site as it existed on August 15, 1947. Ziaur Rehman Barq, the Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal, condemned the move as an attempt to disrupt communal harmony.

On November 24 tensions boiled over as a second survey was scheduled. Protests erupted near the mosque as hundreds of locals, fearing a repeat of the Babri Masjid demolition, gathered to resist the survey. The demonstrations quickly turned violent, with protesters throwing stones and setting vehicles on fire.

Security personnel responded with tear gas and baton charges to control the mob. Four people were killed, including three men in their 20s. Over 30 police personnel were injured in the clashes.

Several vehicles were torched, and property around the mosque was damaged. Internet services were suspended, prohibitory orders were imposed, and schools were shut for a day to prevent further escalation. The Moradabad Police said that those responsible for the violence would face stringent legal action, including charges under the National Security Act (NSA).

Advocate Vishnu Shanker Jain stated that the ASI must take control of the site to conduct a thorough investigation into its origins. Ziaur Rehman Barq urged the community to remain calm while challenging the survey legally. Former Chief Minister Mayawati criticised the government’s inaction in preventing communal tensions.

Critics argue that allowing such cases undermines the The 1991 Places of Worship Act, which aims to maintain the religious status quo post-Independence.

Sambhal:

At least 25 people were arrested and seven cases registered against 400 people after four persons were killed in violence over the survey of a mosque in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal on Sunday. Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal, Ziaur Rahman Barq, and his party colleague Iqbal Mahmood’s son Nawab Suhail Iqbal, are among those who have been charged, officials said.

Sambhal witnessed deadly clashes between the locals and the police during a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid on Sunday morning. The mosque is at the centre of a contentious legal battle over claims that it was built on the site of a Hindu temple.

The protesters also set some vehicles on fire and threw stones at the police, who used tear gas and batons to disperse the mob.

ALSO READ | Gandhis Slam UP Government Over Sambhal Clashes, Flag It To Supreme Court

About 20 police personnel were also injured and a constable, who suffered an injury to the head, is said to be critical.

“Due to Barq’s statement earlier, the situation became worse here,” Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar told a press conference.

He said they were identifying the protestors using drone footage and that the accused would be charged under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).

Speaking to NDTV, Mr Barq held the police responsible for the violence and called it a “part of a conspiracy”.

“A murder case should be registered against them (police personnel) and action should be taken because they fired from private arms and not government arms,” he said.

“Muslims were targeted and killed as part of a conspiracy,” the SP leader added.

His party chief Akhilesh Yadav also alleged that the stone pelting incident in Sambhal was a “riot done by the government”.

“Our MP Zia ur Rahman was not even in Sambhal during the incident and despite that, a case was registered against him. From all the videos we have, we know it was a riot by the government,” Mr Yadav, whose party has traditionally enjoyed strong support in Sambhal, told reporters outside Parliament.

#WATCH | Delhi: On Sambhal stone pelting incident, Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav says “Our MP Zia ur Rahman was not even in Sambhal and despite that an FIR was lodged against him…This is a riot done by the government…Right after the order was passed by the Court, police… pic.twitter.com/qwPGtpho1m

— ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2024

Mr Yadav, who is a Member of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj, had on Sunday said the BJP government and the administration orchestrated the violence “to divert attention from electoral malpractice”.

His charge came after the BJP and its ally RLD secured seven of the nine seats in the recently held by-election for nine Uttar Pradesh Assembly constituencies.

Internet Snapped, Schools Shut In Sambhal

Internet services have been suspended in Sambhal for 24 hours and schools shut on Monday for all students up to Class 12.

Officials also barred any outsider, social organization or public representative from entering Sambhal without the orders of the authorities till November 30.

Sambhal has been tense since last Tuesday when the Jama Masjid was surveyed on a local court’s orders following a petition claiming that a Harihar temple stood at the site.

The officials said the survey could not be completed on Tuesday and was planned for Sunday morning to avoid interference with prayers that are usually held in the afternoon.

A lawyer for the Hindu side claimed that the temple that once stood at the site was demolished by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1529.

ALSO READ | 16th Century Mosque, A City On Fire: Sambhal Violence Explained

Supporters of the survey argue that it is a necessary step in uncovering historical truths, while critics view it as a provocation that violates the sanctity of religious places as upheld by the Places of Worship Act, 1991.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who is a petitioner in the case, said the survey team conducted a detailed examination of the site, supported by videography and photography as per the court’s directives on Sunday. The survey report is scheduled to be submitted by November 29.

Three people were killed and scores of others, including around 20 security personnel and four personnel of the administration, were injured as protesters opposing a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque here clashed with police on Sunday (Novmeber 24, 2024).

The protesters torched vehicles and pelted stones at the police, who used tear gas and batons to disperse the mob.

“Shots were fired by the miscreants… the PRO of the superintendent of police suffered a gunshot to the leg, the police circle officer was hit by pellets and 15 to 20 security personnel were injured in the violence,” Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said.

He said that a constable also suffered a serious head injury, while the deputy collector fractured his leg.

Internet services have been suspended in Sambhal tehsil for 24 hours and the district administration declared a holiday on November 25 for all students up to Class 12.

Images shared on social media showed protesters pelting stones at cops from atop buildings and in front of the Shahi Jama Masjid. Later, police personnel were purportedly seen cornering and hitting people as they tried to disperse a large crowd in a narrow alleyway.

Visuals also showed a lane strewn with a large number of slippers, bricks and stones. In another purported clip, some police personnel in riot gear were seen firing gunshots towards a lane while flames leapt and smoke billowed into the air in the background.

One purported clip showed Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishan Kumar urging stone-pelters not to indulge in violence.

“Do not spoil your future for these politicians,” he is heard saying through his megaphone.

Mr. Kumar also told reporters that videos are going viral at many places that the police have opened fire.

Refuting such allegations, he said, “Police have used pellet guns. No weapons were used that could take anyone’s life. As many as 21 people have been detained. Several kinds of weapons have been recovered from them. At the spot where the firing took place, many shells of different bores have been recovered.”

“Weapons have also been recovered from the houses of the detained people. Firing took place from a house in Nakhasa police station area, from where two women have been detained,” he added.

Tension has been brewing in Sambhal since Tuesday when the Jama Masjid was surveyed on the orders of a local court following a petition that claimed that a Harihar temple stood at the site.

“Three people, identified as Naeem, Bilal and Nauman, have been killed,” Mr. Singh said.

Twenty one people, including two women, have been detained and a probe has been launched, the official said, adding that those accused in the violence would be booked under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).

“The casualty count stands at three. The reason for the death of two of them is clear — bullet wounds from countrymade pistols. The reason for the death of the third person is not clear, but it will be after the post-mortem examination,” said District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya.

The trouble started on Sunday morning when a large group of people gathered near the Shahi Jama Masjid and started shouting slogans as the survey team began their work.

The district officials said the survey could not be completed on Tuesday and was planned for Sunday morning to avoid interference with prayers that are usually held in the afternoon.

Mr. Kumar told reporters later that there was peace in the area.

“Internet service will remain closed for one day in Sambhal tehsil,” he said.

The SP added that an FIR has been registered at the Sambhal Police Station and the 20-22 policemen, who were injured, were giving their statements.

He said that the constable, who suffered an injury to the head, has been sent to the Meerut Medical College and his condition is critical.

Elaborating on the incident, the divisional commissioner said when the survey team was leaving after completing the exercise, some people started pelting stones.

“There were groups on three sides. One from the front, one from the right and one from the left. They were continuously pelting stones. Police used force so that the survey team could be taken out and escorted safely. Tear gas shells were also fired. Plastic bullets were used,” Mr. Singh said.

“This is definitely an act of provocation in which lives have also been lost,” he said and appealed to people to maintain peace.

Mr. Singh said the survey work was being done under court orders.

“It was going on peacefully… Nothing has been done in the survey that may tamper with the structure of the mosque. In fact, in the stone-pelting that happened today, stones were definitely thrown at the mosque,” he said.

Mr. Singh said that efforts are on to identify people, who had provoked the crowd.

Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, who is a petitioner in the case, earlier 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 said.

On Sunday, Mr. Jain urged the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to take control of the “temple”.

Gopal Sharma, a local lawyer for the Hindu side, claimed that the temple that once stood at the site was demolished by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1529.