Sambhal mosque survey: Uttar Pradesh Police use tear gas to disperse crowd throwing stones

The trouble started on Sunday morning as 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

Three people were killed as protesters opposing a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque here clashed with security personnel on Sunday (November 23, 2024).

A violent clash erupted in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal when people numbered in hundreds opposed a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid mosque, which was initiated after a local court’s order on a complaint that a temple was demolished by Mughals to build the mosque.

Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, told PTI: “Three people identified as Naeem, Bilal and Nauman have been killed. Some policemen including the gunner of the superintendent of police have also been injured.” The trouble started on Sunday morning as 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.

“The situation is under control, top district officials are holding a meeting,” said one Sambhal police officer. The Hindu reached out to Superintendent of Police (SP), Sambhal, and local Lok Sabha Member Zia Ur Rehman but both were busy in a high-level district meeting over the clash. 

The situation becomes tense as the survey team arrived to complete the survey with protesters gathered around the Shahi Jama Masjid opposed the move. The situation went out of control as the crowd indulged in heavy stone-pelting at the survey team, despite presence of heavy police force. Police used ‘mild’ force including tear gas shells to control the crowd with additional forces deployed in the area to control the situation.

The head of the Jama Masjid urged the crowd gathered around the mosque to disperse. Despite the violence, a team of administrative officials carried out the survey of the 16th century structure, with the process being video graphed and photographed. 

Shahi Jama Masjid was earlier surveyed on November 19 after a local court’s orders following a petition by a priest claiming that the mosque was built on the ruins of a temple demolished by Muslim rulers. 

(With inputs from PTI)

Published - November 24, 2024 12:01 pm IST