Lucknow: Special police bandobast has been made around the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, for the structure to be whitewashed, as per orders of the Allahabad High Court. The process started on Sunday.
The Court has also allowed the setting up of decorative lights on the exterior, without causing any modifications to the structure.
Most mosques are whitewashed and decorated every year during the month of Ramzan, in preparation for the festival of Eid that is likely to fall on March 30-31 this year. Special permission was required for the mosque in Sambhal as the Court is hearing a plea that the Mughal-era structure was built over a Hari Hari Temple.
A lower court had ordered a survey, following which violence erupted in Sambhal on November 24, 2024. After rumours that the mosque is to be razed, locals pelted stones at the police and administrative officials when they arrived for the survey.
The police opened fire, resulting in the deaths of five people and injuries to several others. Some were injured in the stone pelting as well. The authorities later said that the mob was incited by outsiders and some protesters also used firearms. There has been tension in the town since.
The incident also sparked off a political row with several parties, including the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, training their guns on the BJP-led Yogi Adityanath government. The administration maintained that they were simply following court orders when attacked.
The High Court took over the matter thereafter and directed the lower court not to pass any further orders in the matter.
“The area is peaceful now. We have increased police presence to prevent any trouble during the whitewashing. Hopefully, all sides will abide by the High Court’s order and not do anything to disrupt the peace,” a senior official said.