Clash Erupts In Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal During Official Survey Of Mosque Following Court Order

Sambhal: A violent clash erupted in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal on Sunday after a group opposed an official survey of a mosque. The survey was initiated following a court order on a complaint that the structure was originally a temple.

Hundreds of protesters had gathered near the Shahi Jama Masjid as the survey team arrived at the spot. The situation turned violent as the mob pelted stones at the survey team. There was heavy police deployment in the area.

To disperse the crowd, the police fired tear gas shells in retaliation. A similar survey had been conducted on November 19, in the presence of local police and members of the mosque’s management committee, reported the India Today. Since then, the area had witnessed escalated tension.

According to the complaint filed by Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain a temple once stood at the site of the masjid. He claimed that Mughal emperor Babar partially demolished the temple in 1529.