Sambhal violence decoded: 16th century mosque, 4 deaths and a curfew — What we know so far

Security personnel deployed to maintain law and order, a day after clashes between police and protesters opposing the survey of the Jama Masjid, in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. (PTI)

The Sunday violence in Chandausi town of Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district that claimed four lives and left dozens others, including police personnel injured, stemmed from a court-mandated survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid. The survey, second at the mosque within a week, led to a riot that brought the city to a standstill, followed by multiple FIRs and subsequent arrests.

Tension had been brewing in Sambhal since November 19 when the Jama Masjid was first surveyed on the court's orders following a petition claiming that an ancient Hindu temple once stood at the site. On Sunday, trouble began early when a large group of people gathered near the mosque and started shouting slogans as the survey team began its work. Violence broke out as protesters opposing the survey of the Jama Masjid clashed with security personnel. They torched vehicles and pelted the police with stones while the security personnel used tear gas and batons to disperse the mob.

Let’s take a look at how the controversy unfolded, culminating into a riot, deaths, curfew, FIRs and arrests in the sensitive area:

Why was the survey ordered?

Controversy erupted when as many as eight petitioners, including advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, filed the case in the Sambhal court, contending that a Shri Hari Har Temple dedicated to Lord Kalki once stood at the site, which was demolished by Mughal emperor Babur in 1529. Alleging that the present mosque stood on the site of the historic temple, the plea urged the civil court to direct the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to take control of the alleged temple.

The petition also noted that the monument was protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. It further contended that under Section 18 of the Act, the public has “right of access to the protected monument”.

Notably, 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-Kashi Vishwanath dispute.

The court order and the first survey

Civil Judge (Senior Division), Sambhal at Chandausi, Aditya Singh ordered a survey of the mosque on November 19, which was done on the same day by Advocate Commissioner Ramesh Raghav, in presence of district administration, police and the mosque management committee.

The second survey and fallout

While the Muslim side had vehemently opposed the survey of the mosque, officials scheduled a second round of the survey on November 24. The survey officials were met by a swelling crowd, who reportedly feared demolition of the monument and gathered to resist the survey. The sloganeering quickly turned violent despite the chief Imam urging the crowd to disperse.

The mob started pelting stones and setting vehicles on fire. In retaliation, the police resorted to tear gas shelling and baton charging. The face-off resulted in loss of four lives and left over 30 police personnel injured.

Police have booked Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and local SP MLA Iqbal Mehmood's son Sohail Iqbal and arrested 25 people. The district administration imposed prohibitory orders and barred the entry of outsiders till November 30. Internet services are suspended in Sambhal tehsil and Monday was declared a holiday for schools. A magisterial probe has been ordered.

Mosque management committee blames administration

The mosque management committee blamed the local authorities and the police for the violence. Zafar Ali, the president of the Shahi Jama Masjid management committee, made the allegations at a press conference and was detained by police as soon as the meeting ended.

"The recent survey of the mosque was not conducted under court orders but solely on the directions of the District Magistrate. This survey was carried out unlawfully," Ali said at the press conference.

"The culpable officials in this incident are Sambhal's Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vandana Mishra and Circle Officer Anuj Kumar," he added.

Ali alleged that the SDM insisted on draining water from the ablution tank (wazukhana), even though the district magistrate and superintendent of police suggested measuring the depth with a stick.

Police counter claims

District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya and Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar, however, denied the allegations and said Ali was not detained by police.

VIDEO | #Sambhal Mosque Controversy: We are holding this conference after Zafar Alis misleading statement He said in his statement that he was not informed (of the survey for a second time). However, on November 23 at 6:15 pm, I called him. He said that he is not well, so we pic.twitter.com/b4CSAc7Ybg
Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 25, 2024

Kumar said the Imam was himself becoming a “part of a politically motivated conspiracy” and also made it clear that losses incurred in the violence will be recovered from the rioters.

Kumar also said that seven FIRs have been lodged over the violence. Six people, including Barq and Iqbal, were named and 2,750 others have been mentioned as unidentified.

VIDEO | Sambhal violence: Responding to the allegations levelled by Zafar Ali, the president of the Shahi Jama Masjid management committee, Sambhal SP Krishna Bishnoi said: "He said no one from the public pelted stones, but he himself was wearing a helmet after the survey pic.twitter.com/I32NmJuiMd Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 25, 2024

The political blame game

Opposition parties attacked the ruling BJP at the Centre and Uttar Pradesh a day after Sunday's violence, with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accusing the state government of orchestrating a "riot" and senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleging that the ruling party was creating a rift between Hindus and Muslims.

The BJP hit back, dubbing the violence as "pre-planned" and saying that it was instigated by those who have been taken aback by the party's rise in the country, especially after its performance in the Uttar Pradesh assembly bypolls.