Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain filed a complaint alleging that Mughal emperor Babar destroyed the Hari Har Mandir temple, which was originally located at the site of the Shahi Masjid at Uttar Pradesh.
On Sunday, a violent clash broke out in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal when a group protested against the survey of a mosque. The survey was initiated following a court order based on allegations that a temple had been demolished by the Mughals to construct the mosque.
Hundreds of protesters gathered near the Shahi Jama Masjid as the survey team arrived and opposed the proceedings. The situation escalated when the crowd began pelting stones at the survey team, despite heavy police presence
तस्वीर देखकर लग रहा है कि वहां की हालात बहुत नाजुक है और बिगड़ती जा रही है...
— Love Gupta (@LoveGuptaX) November 24, 2024
क्या संभल से भी नही जागेगा हिंदू ? #Sambhal #SambhalJamaMasjid pic.twitter.com/yBa9fsGjlT
The head of the Jama Masjid made an announcement from within the mosque, calling on the crowd gathered outside to disperse. Despite his appeal, the protesters continued their demonstration. Senior police officials also tried to calm the situation, but their efforts failed, and the crowd resorted to stone-pelting.
“The survey in Sambhal is being conducted under court orders. Unfortunately, some anti-social elements have thrown stones. Police and senior officers are on-site, and the situation is under control. The police will identify those involved and take appropriate legal action,” said Uttar Pradesh’s top cop, Prashant Kumar.
Despite the unrest, the Advocate Commission successfully completed the survey. The entire process was documented through videography and photography, according to Sambhal District Magistrate Rajender Pensiyia. The Commission is scheduled to submit its report to the court on November 29.
The survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid was conducted after Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain filed a court complaint alleging that the mosque was once a temple.
The area has been under heightened tension for several days, leading to the deployment of a heavy police presence. Prohibitory orders have been enforced, restricting gatherings of more than five people.
A similar survey took place on November 19, with local police and members of the mosque’s management committee in attendance.
The court complaint, filed by Vishnu Shankar Jain, alleged that the Hari Har Mandir temple once stood where the mosque is located and that Mughal emperor Babar partially demolished it in 1529.
Vishnu Jain and his father, Hari Shankar Jain, have previously represented the Hindu side in several high-profile cases related to places of worship, including the Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath dispute.
In response to the tensions, the district administration on Saturday required 35 individuals to sign bonds of up to Rs 10 lakh to ensure peace and order. Authorities take such action when they suspect someone may breach peace, disturb public harmony, or commit a wrongful act.