Tension in UP’s Sambhal; cops use tear gas to disperse stone-pelting mob during mosque survey

Jama Masjid surveyed on orders of local court following petition that claimed that Harihar temple stood at the site, which was demolished by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1529

Sambhal: Crowds gathered at the Jama Masjid of Sambhal on Sunday and pelted stones at officials conducting the second survey of the Mughal-era mosque, claimed to be originally the site of an ancient Hindu temple, forcing police to use tear gas and “minor force” to control the situation.

Tension has been seething in Sambhal over the past few days after the Jama Masjid was surveyed last Tuesday on the orders of a local court following a petition that claimed that a Harihar temple stood at the site.

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According to the local administration, a second survey by an ‘Advocate Commissioner’ as part of a court-ordered examination into the disputed site began around 7 am and a crowd began gathering at the spot.

“Some miscreants came out of the crowd gathered near the site and pelted stones at the police team. The police used minor force and tear gas to bring the situation under control,” Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Vishnoi said.

He said those who engaged in stone pelting and those who incited them will be identified and action taken against them.

District Magistrate Rajendra Pesia said, “Some miscreants resorted to stone pelting but the situation is peaceful now and the survey is under way.”

Videos of youths throwing stones at police, purportedly near the site of the survey in Sambhal have surfaced on the Internet.

Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, who is also the petitioner in the case, had said the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) ordered the constitution of an ‘Advocate Commission’ to survey the mosque.

The court has said a report should be filed after conducting a videography and photography survey through the commission, he had said.

The Central and Uttar Pradesh governments, the mosque committee and the District Magistrate of Sambhal have been made parties in the petition concerning the mosque, Jain said last Tuesday.

Vishnu Shankar Jain and his father Hari Shankar Jain have represented the Hindu side in many cases related to places of worship, including the Gyanvapi Mosque-Kashi Vishwanath temple dispute.

Gopal Sharma, a local lawyer for the Hindu side, said in his petition filed in the court, he mentioned that ‘Baburnama’ and the ‘Ain-e-Akbari’ has confirmed that a Harihar temple was at the site where the Jama Masjid now stands.

He also claimed that the temple was demolished by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1529.

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq had objected to the developments.

“The Jama Masjid of Sambhal is historical and very old. The Supreme Court had given the order in 1991 that whatever religious places are there in whatever condition since 1947, they will remain at their places,” he had said.

The next date for hearing in this case is January 29.