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.

New Delhi:

As Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh simmers after violence over survey at a mosque claimed four lives, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Yogi Adityanath government of partiality and said its “hasty” approach was unfortunate. Mr Gandhi’s sister and party colleague Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, too, criticised the state government and appealed to Supreme Court to take up of the sensitive issue.

Sambhal has been tense after a local court last month ordered a survey of the Mughal-era Jama Masjid following a petition that claimed that a Harihar temple stood at the site before Babar demolished it. One round of survey was carried out on Tuesday and another was scheduled for Sunday. But when the survey team started work yesterday, a large group gathered near the mosque and started raising slogans. The situation escalated into a full-blown clash between cops and the protesters. Police had to use force to bring the situation under control.

District Magistrate Rajendra Pesia said some people threw stones at police, but the situation was now in control. A total of seven cases have been registered against 400-odd people in connection with the violence. The main Opposition, Samajwadi Party has alleged that the survey team was deliberately sent in to “create chaos” and “the other side was not even heard”. “This was intentionally done to provoke emotions and avoid discussions on election rigging,” he said a day after the NDA scored big in the nine Uttar Pradesh bypolls.

In a Hindi post on X, Mr Gandhi expressed condolences with the family members of those killed in the violence. “The administration did not hear all sides and acted insensitively. This spoiled the atmosphere and led to deaths and the BJP is responsible for them,” the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha said.

Mr Gandhi alleged the BJP of creating a rift between Hindus and Muslims and said this was not in the interest of the state or the country. “I urge Supreme Court to intervene in this matter at the earliest,” he said, calling for peace and harmony.

Mr Gandhi’s sister and newly elected Lok Sabha MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra blamed the state government for the tension in Sambhal and echoed her brother’s request to the top court to intervene. “I appeal to the people to maintain peace at all costs,” she said.