Violence broke out during the poll held at Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday. Four people have lost their lives. The miscreants threw stones at the police and set seven vehicles on fire. 20 police officers and 4 people linked to the administration were also injured in the violence. District schools have been closed. The Internet has also been banned. The entry of people from outside the district has also been prohibited.
What is the dispute regarding Sambhal Masjid and what are the arguments of both sides? What is the court order and what will happen next? Know the answers to all the questions…
What happened yesterday in Sambhal?
On the orders of the local court, a team led by the Advocate Commissioner had reached Shahi Masjid to conduct a survey. The entire incident took place around 7am on Sunday. Hearing the news of the poll, a crowd gathered at Shahi Masjid. Some people tried to enter.
It is alleged that as soon as the team came out after completing the survey at 11 am, the crowd surrounded them and started creating ruckus. There was a fight with the team members. Meanwhile, some miscreants pelted stones at the police and inspection team and started a fire. The police took charge and fired into the air and tear gas to disperse the crowd. There are reports that the crowd also fired bullets.
How is the situation in Sambhal now?
Internet has been closed for 24 hours in Sambhal tehsil. This time can be extended. The district administration has declared a holiday in schools up to grade 12 till Monday. Markets have been closed since the incident. So far no further incidents have come to light following the morning’s violence. Police from 30 police stations across Moradabad area have been deployed in Sambhal.
What caused the violence?
Regarding the royal mosque of Sambhal, it was said that it was formerly a Harihar temple. On November 19, senior advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain filed a complaint in the Sambhal Civil Judge High Division court calling Shahi Jama Masjid as Harihar Temple. The court appointed a defense commissioner on Tuesday and ordered the inquiry within seven days. In the first phase, the team returned after videography. The team reached the site at 7 am on Sunday for the second phase of the study. It is said that tension in this area had increased for a week. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain said the survey has been completed. The report will be submitted to the court on November 29.
Earlier, Mahant Rishiraj Giri Maharaj of Kailadevi temple had claimed that the royal mosque of Sambhal is the Harihar temple. It was built on the orders of Babar in place of a Hindu temple. He had demanded that an inquiry be carried out in the civil court.
Who was on the survey team?
Advocate commissioner Ramesh Raghav is in the survey team. The petitioner-side advocates are Vishnu Shankar Jain and Gopal Sharma. Advocate Vishnu Sharma represents the central government. On Sunday, this team reached the spot along with Jama Masjid Sadar Committee. The surroundings were blocked. The videography of the mosque was being carried out in the presence of advocate commissioner Ramesh Raghav and DM, SP.
What order did the court give?
On November 19, the High Division Civil Judge ruled that the second party in this case is the Government of India, so before passing any order, it is necessary to hear the other party as well, so the Government of India India and other parts have to be heard. So that they can also present their version before the court. A conclusion can be reached after listening to both sides. The court said the Advocate Commissioner should go to the spot and prepare his report. Submit this report to the court within the stipulated period. Since the matter is sensitive, videography and photography must be performed. DM and SP should provide police force at the spot.
What action did the police take now?
According to Moradabad Range DIG Muniraj, 21 people have been arrested, including 2 women. They are being interrogated. Police say anyone against whom evidence is found will be arrested and produced in court. With the help of CCTV cameras, the people involved in the crowd are being identified. Separate teams have been formed to arrest the miscreants. Many teams carried out raids in Sambhal throughout the night. During this period some illegal weapons and live cartridges were also recovered from different places. Police say that soon the miscreants will be arrested and sent to prison. Strict action will be taken against the accused.
In view of the stone-pelting incidents, the deputy district magistrate has issued a notice prohibiting citizens from collecting stones, bottles or any flammable or explosive material on their roofs. If anyone does this, strict action will be taken against him. Orders have also been given to the municipality that if any construction material is found on the roads, it must be confiscated immediately.
The administration also banned the entry of outsiders into the district. According to the DM’s order, the city border is closed for the entry of foreigners until December 1. This matter has also reached the National Human Rights Commission. All schools and colleges in the tehsil area have also been closed.
What did the administration say?
Moradabad divisional commissioner Anjaneya Kumar Singh said that during the violence miscreants attacked from three sides. First – from the front, second – from the left side and third – from the right side. The police were quick and were the first to evacuate the investigation team from the scene. Plastic bullets and tear gas grenades were used to control the situation. Weapons have also been recovered from the homes of those detained. The shooting took place from a house in the Nakhasa police station area, where two women were arrested. A case will be registered against those accused of violence under the National Security Act (NSA). The administration said the crowd had definitely been instigated. Efforts are being made to identify those who instigated the mob. The administration appealed to the people to maintain peace.
Who died in the violence?
Four people have lost their lives in the violence. Among them, Naeem, Bilal, Nauman and Mohammad Kaif have lost their lives. The last rites of the four were performed late at night. Two died from bullets fired from domestically manufactured pistols. The situation will become clear after the post-mortem report on the death of the third and fourth arrives.
Who was injured?
Sambhal SP said his PRO was shot in the leg during the violence. The deputy collector’s leg is also fractured. An officer has suffered a head injury. The police officer was hit by shrapnel. A total of 20 police officers were injured. Four senior officers were also injured.
What did the Muslim side say?
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Mahmood Madani has expressed his displeasure and grief over the violence. He said Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind does not support violence by any party or miscreants. But the brutal action of the police is not only unjust but also discriminatory, which is why innocent people lost their lives. Former Moradabad MP Dr ST Hasan said we do not agree with the court’s decision to conduct the survey. The Places of Worship Act 1991 states that a place of worship of any religion that existed before 15 August 1947 cannot be converted into a place of worship of another religion. Ordering a survey is a violation of the law. What was the need to conduct a survey? Jama Masjid is 500 years old. How long will our generation continue to be harassed?
What did the Hindu side say in the case?
The complaint that has been filed before the civil judge’s court is 95 pages long. It was said that Lord Kalki would be born only in Sambhal. There are many evidences that make it clear that the mosque was built after demolishing the Harihar temple. The reality will only be revealed after the survey. The Jama Masjid Committee uses it without permission.
In this case, petitioner and Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain had said that the court of civil judge (High Division) had ordered formation of an advocate commissioner for inspection of the mosque. The court has said that a videography and photography study should be carried out and the report should be submitted through the Advocate Commissioner.
On Sunday, Jain urged the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to take control of the disputed site. Local lawyer Gopal Sharma, on the Hindu side, claimed that the temple that once stood here was demolished by the Mughal emperor Babar in 1529.
‘Making little children stand in front…’
DIG Moradabad Range Muniraj said a survey was conducted there in accordance with the court order. We have deployed police force there. Some people made small children stand in front and started throwing rocks at the police. The police tried to control the situation and also appealed to maintain peace. They also set fire to some vehicles and police dispersed the crowd using riot weapons and tear gas grenades. 20 police officers have been injured. The situation is under control. We have arrested 20 people.
Police seek conspiracy angle
SP Krishna Kumar Bishnoi said the situation is under control and additional forces have also been deployed. Internet services have been suspended for a day. Some people started throwing stones at the police and the police also retaliated. The police dispersed the crowd. When the DM and DIG were patrolling, two women pelted them with stones and fired at them with locally made pistols. This is very unfortunate. Strict action will be taken against them as per NSA. FIR has been registered. The mobile phones of the detainees are being reviewed to determine whether or not there was conspiracy.
