3 killed in clashes during violent protest against UP’s Sambhal mosque survey

 

 

THREE people were killed and scores of others, including around 20 security personnel, were injured as protesters opposing a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque here clashed with police on Sunday. 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. 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,” Singh said, adding that preparations were underway for their post-mortem examination.

 

Ten people, including two women, have been detained and a probe has been launched, an official said, adding some people even set afire some motorcycles parked on the roadside. “We are investigating where the shots were fired from, particularly in the Deepa Sarai area,” the official said. He added that the accused in the violence would be booked under the stringent National Security Act (NSA). The trouble started on Sunday morning when a large group of people gathered near the mosque and started shouting slogans as the survey team began their work in the Shahi Jama Masjid. District officials said the survey was planned in the morning to avoid interference with the mosque prayers that are usually held in the afternoon. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav lashed out at the BJP, saying the ruling party, Government and the administration orchestrated the violence “to divert attention from electoral malpractice”. According to the local administration, a second survey by an “Advocate Commissioner” as part of a court-ordered examination into the disputed site started around 7 am and a crowd began gathering there.

 

“The survey was proceeding peacefully until a group of people gathered near the mosque and began raising slogans. When the police attempted to clear the area, a group of miscreants in the crowd started pelting stones at the police,” said the Moradabad divisional commissioner. He said the people involved in the violence were likely incited by individuals with vested interests aiming to disrupt peace in the area. Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Vishnoi said, “The police used minor force and tear gas to bring the situation under control.” He said those who engaged in stone-pelting and those who incited them will be identified and action taken against them. “We are in the process of registering an FIR,” the police officer added. District Magistrate Rajendra Pesia said, “Some miscreants resorted to stone pelting but the situation is peaceful now. Around 10 people have been detained in connection with the stone-pelting incident. They are being interrogated.” Uttar Pradesh police chief Prashant Kumar told PTI that the situation was under control in Sambhal.

 

“We are monitoring everything. All police and civil administration officials are handling the situation on the spot. They are patrolling those areas. Anti-social elements will be identified very soon and strict action will be taken against them,” the director general of police (DGP) said. Additional police units have been deployed near the mosque to ensure law and order and officials are closely monitoring the situation. At a press conference in Lucknow, Akhilesh Yadav said, “A serious incident occurred in Sambhal. A survey team was deliberately sent in the morning to disrupt discussions about the elections.

 

The intention was to create chaos so that no debate on election issues could happen.” “I don’t want to go into the legal or procedural aspects, but the other side was not even heard. This was intentionally done to provoke emotions and avoid discussions on election rigging,” he said. “What happened in Sambhal was orchestrated by the BJP, the Government and the administration to divert attention from electoral malpractices,” the former UP Chief Minister alleged. 

 

 

SURVEY of Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district was completed on Sunday and its report will be submitted to the court on November 29. The court ordered a survey on a petition filed by Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain contending that Mughal emperor Babar razed the Harihar temple to build the mosque. Advocate Jain said the survey was conducted from 7.30 a.m. and lasted until 10.00 a.m. “The survey has been completed successfully, and all necessary photos and videos have been taken. The report will be presented before the court on November 29,” said Advocate Jain. However, he refrained from commenting on the findings.

 

He urged the public to maintain peace and trust in the judicial process. Advocate Jain informed the media that the lawyer, representing the Masjid Committee, was also present during the survey. Meanwhile, All India Muslim Jamaat Chief Shahbuddin Razvi Barelvi appealed to community to maintain peace.