The dispute over the re-survey of Jama Masjid in Sambhal took a violent turn on Sunday. During the survey, the angry mob pelted stones, indulged in arson and attacked the police due to which the situation went out of control. The police had to fire tear gas shells and resort to lathi-charge to disperse the violent mob.
More than 20 policemen and two dozen people were injured in the incident. Three people are also reported to be dead.
The mob set more than 10 vehicles on fire.
A heavy police force was camping in the area to avert any fresh violence while the internet services were suspended to check spread of rumours. The police have detained over a dozen people, including two women, in connection with the violence.
Reports said that on Sunday morning, the survey team reached Jama Masjid along with Sambhal District Magistrate Dr Rajender Pensiya and Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Vishnoi. The team, led by Court Commissioner Ramesh Raghav, started the survey work inside the mosque.
As soon as the local people came to know about the survey, angry members of the Muslim community gathered outside the mosque in large numbers. The Muslim community objected to the survey early in the morning and on a holiday. Soon about a thousand people gathered outside the mosque. The mob tried to stop the police from entering the mosque. Even after persuasion from the police, people did not listen and started creating ruckus.
The situation worsened when the mob suddenly started pelting stones. Many policemen were injured in the stone-pelting, including the public relations officer of the district police chief and a sub-divisional magistrate. After the stone-pelting, the mob set fire on the road. When the situation went out of control, the police fired tear gas shells and tried to disperse the mob by lathi-charge on the protesters.
Tension prevailed in the area after the incident. The police have put up barricades around the mosque and the area has been sealed. Additional police force has been called from nearby police stations. All senior officials of the district, including the DM and SP, reached the spot to defuse the tension.
Police officials said that there were at least 300 in the crowd.
After the stone-pelting, the police took action, resulting in some people getting injured. Three people died in the violence. They were identified as Naeem, Bilal and Noman,
Noman (42), was the lone bread earner in the family having three children. His wife claimed that on Sunday morning, Noman, a street vendor, left to sell cosmetics and in the afternoon, she learnt that he died in firing.
Meanwhile, the survey went on for about two hours inside the mosque. The team inspected various parts of the mosque under the leadership of Court Commissioner Ramesh Radh. After completion of the survey, the team left from there.
The next hearing in this case is to be held on November 29, in which the preliminary report of the survey will be presented in the court.
Sambhal District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya confirmed that the survey was successfully completed and the entire process was recorded by videography and photography. This report will be submitted to the court on November 29.
It may be mentioned that the case has been filed in the court by the Hindu side. In it, they have claimed that the mosque is a Harihar temple. The court has appointed the court commissioner. On Sunday, the court commissioner reached the mosque and also conducted a survey for the second time. Videography and photography were done for about two hours. The court commissioner will present the report in the court on November 29. After the survey, security has been increased around the Jama Masjid.
The plaintiffs in this case include Supreme Court advocate Harishankar Jain, Perth Yadav, Mahant Rishiraj Giri, Rakesh Kumar, Jeetpal Singh Yadav, Madanpal, Vedpal and Dinanath. Harishankar Jain’s son Vishnu Shankar Jain is involved in this case as an advocate. A police team is monitoring all social media platforms. Action will be taken by the police on inflammatory or controversial posts. SP Krishna Kumar Vishnoi said that such posts could spread unrest, therefore a team has been put on surveillance.
