Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh – Three people were killed and at least 15 police officers injured in violent clashes on Sunday in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh after a mob opposed a court-mandated survey of a mosque, alleging it was built over a demolished Hindu temple.
The violence erupted near the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal as hundreds of protesters confronted a survey team accompanied by police. According to reports, the mob hurled stones at officials, prompting security forces to respond with tear gas and plastic bullets, authorities said.
“Three people have died, and their identities have been confirmed as Noman, Naeem, and Mohd Bilal Ansari,” said Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh. He added that the precise cause of death will be determined through autopsies.
Escalating Tensions
The survey was initiated following a complaint by Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, alleging the mosque was constructed on the ruins of the Hari Har Mandir, a temple purportedly demolished in 1529 under Mughal emperor Babar.
The incident occurred when the local court-appointed commissioner and six members of his team entered the mosque at around 7 a.m. for a second survey. A purported video circulating online shows members of the survey team shouting slogans alongside a Hindutva group, further inflaming tensions.
The head of the mosque urged the crowd to disperse during the clashes, but protesters defied police orders, pelting stones and setting vehicles on fire, officials said. Sub-Inspector Vikas Nirwal, who was injured in the melee, estimated the crowd at 300 and described an organized attack from three directions.
“Police and senior officers were on-site to ensure law and order. Despite our efforts to de-escalate, anti-social elements resorted to violence,” Uttar Pradesh police chief Prashant Kumar said.
Heavy Security Deployment
The district administration imposed prohibitory orders to restrict gatherings of more than five people. Eighteen individuals have been detained, including two women accused of throwing stones from rooftops, and a drone survey was conducted to identify additional suspects.
Authorities said the Advocate Commission successfully completed the survey, which was videographed and photographed. The findings will be presented to the court on November 29, Sambhal District Magistrate Rajender Pensiyia confirmed.
In anticipation of unrest, officials had taken precautionary measures, including binding 35 individuals under bonds of up to INR 1 million to maintain peace.
The Shahi Jama Masjid, built during the Mughal era, is a recognized historical monument, according to the official website of the Sambhal district. However, Hindu groups have claimed it was constructed on temple ruins, echoing similar disputes, including the ongoing Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath case in Varanasi.
(Inputs from various reports)
The Chenab Times News Desk