Sambhal Violence: 3 Dead In Clashes Over Mosque Survey, Akhilesh Yadav Accuses BJP Of 'Orchestrating' Violence

Sambhal Violence: Clashes erupted in during a court-ordered survey of a mosque, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. The police used tear gas to control the situation, and ten people were arrested.

Tension escalated in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district on Sunday as clashes erupted during a court-ordered second survey of the Mughal-era Jama Masjid, claimed to have been built on the site of an ancient Harihar temple. The police resorted to tear gas and minor force to control the situation, which saw locals pelting stones. Three people died in the violence while ten persons were held over the incident.

Sambhal Violence: 10 Arrested, Police Say Situation Now Peaceful

Three people were killed in clashes between mob and security personnel during a mosque survey in Sambhal, Moradabad divisional commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh informed, as per news agency PTI.

According to ANI, Aunjaneya Kumar Singh told the media, "... After the survey was completed, the stone pelting started by three groups from three directions... The police used tear gas and plastic bullets to handle the situation. Another group started setting vehicles on fire... And they also began firing... The police PRO was shot in the foot during the firing. Dy Collector's got fractured. CO is injured and around 15 police jawans were injured. A total of 3 people are known to have died in the firing... The situation is under control... We are speaking to their representatives..."

Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Vishnoi confirmed that ten individuals were detained in connection with the violence, and a probe has been launched. “Some miscreants in the crowd pelted stones at the police team. The police used minor force and tear gas to bring the situation under control. Those who engaged in stone pelting and those who incited them will be identified and action taken,” Vishnoi said, as quoted by PTI.

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

Videos of youths throwing stones at the police near the survey site surfaced online, exacerbating tensions. Reports also indicated that attempts were made to set fire to motorcycles parked nearby.

Sambhal Violence: Court-Ordered Survey

The survey was ordered by a local court after a petition by lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, who claimed that the mosque was constructed on the ruins of a Harihar temple demolished by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1529. The court directed an Advocate Commission to conduct a videography and photography survey of the site.

The mosque committee, district magistrate, and Central and Uttar Pradesh governments were made parties to the petition. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for January 29.

Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq criticised the move, citing the Places of Worship Act, 1991. “The Jama Masjid of Sambhal is historical and very old. The Supreme Court had ordered that all religious places shall remain as they were in 1947,” he stated, as per PTI.

Sambhal Violence: Samajwadi Party Alleges Political Conspiracy

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the violence was orchestrated by the BJP and the administration to divert attention from electoral irregularities in the recent bypolls.

“A survey team was deliberately sent in the morning to disrupt discussions about the elections. The intention was to create chaos so that no debate on election issues could happen,” Yadav claimed, as per PTI.

The former chief minister raised questions about the necessity of the second survey, accusing the BJP of provoking emotions to distract from allegations of vote rigging. “What happened in Sambhal was orchestrated to avoid discussions on electoral malpractices,” he alleged.

The SP chief further claimed that his party’s booth agents were removed on polling day, and supporters were prevented from voting. “If voters were prevented from voting, then who cast the votes? This is a serious issue,” Yadav said, adding that discriminatory measures, such as separate slips with red marks, were used during the polls.

The bypolls saw the BJP and its ally RLD winning seven seats, while the SP secured just two. SP candidate Haji Rizwan, who contested from the Kundarki assembly seat, alleged that his supporters faced significant hurdles in casting their votes.

The BJP’s Ramveer Singh emerged victorious in Kundarki with a margin of over 1.45 lakh votes.

Uttar Pradesh police chief Prashant Kumar stated that the situation in Sambhal was under control. “We are monitoring everything. All police and civil administration officials are handling the situation on the spot. Anti-social elements will be identified very soon and strict action will be taken,” he said.