Four Fatalities Reported in Sambhal, India, Amid Mosque Survey Violence

The northern Indian city of Sambhal has been placed on alert following violent confrontations on Sunday that resulted in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to dozens. These clashes erupted between demonstrators and law enforcement personnel during a court-supervised inspection of the Shahi Jama Masjid, a mosque dating back centuries and designated as a federally protected 16th-century monument. Officials in Uttar Pradesh state, the location of Sambhal, have initiated four legal proceedings related to the unrest. They have also temporarily halted internet services and closed schools in the vicinity for a single day. The inspection itself was mandated by a local judicial body last week, mere hours after a formal request alleged that the mosque occupied the former location of a demolished temple. Visual evidence, including videos and photographs circulated on social media, depicts footwear, bricks, and stones scattered near the mosque following the confrontations. While demonstrators assert that four individuals were shot during police action, officials have refuted these claims. Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar informed The Hindu newspaper, “No weapons were used that could take anyone’s life.” The contention surrounding the Shahi Jama Masjid represents the most recent in a succession of disagreements concerning mosques across the nation. In these instances, Hindu organizations have asserted that Mughal emperors demolished temples to construct the mosques. Muslim organizations are presently contesting legal actions related to these assertions in multiple judicial forums. In Sambhal, heightened tensions have been evident since Tuesday, following a local court’s directive for a video-recorded inspection of the Jama Masjid. This order was issued mere hours after a petition put forth the claim that the mosque’s construction occurred subsequent to Mughal ruler Babur’s destruction of the Hari Har temple during the 1520s. Officials in Uttar Pradesh, a state administered by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), carried out an initial inspection of the mosque on the same day. Segments of Muslim communities in Sambhal voiced opposition to this, contending they had received no advance notification. They have also raised concerns regarding the swiftness with which the court mandated the procedure. A subsequent inspection of the mosque took place on Sunday morning, escalating into violence after a substantial assembly of demonstrators convened near the mosque and commenced chanting slogans directed at the survey personnel, according to police reports. Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, a senior police officer, informed The Hindu that demonstrators reportedly threw stones at law enforcement, compelling them to employ force to ensure the safety of the survey team. He further stated that tear gas canisters and plastic projectiles were discharged to scatter the gatherings. Leaders of the opposition have denounced the state administration, alleging it orchestrated the unrest for political advantage—an accusation the government refutes. Uttar Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister, Brajesh Pathak, informed The Indian Express newspaper, “No one is allowed to take law into their own hands,” and added that officials are probing the event. Mahmood Madani, who serves as president of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, a prominent association of Islamic academics, denounced the ongoing conflicts concerning mosques nationwide, asserting that such disputes contravene Indian legal statutes. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.