What Led To Clash In Sambhal During Shahi Juma Masjid Survey? (image - twitter/ screengrab/ RealBababanaras)
A petition was filed on November 19 by members of the Kela Devi Temple Committee in the Civil Senior Division Cout of Chandausi alleging that the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal was originally the Shri Harihar temple. The petitioners alleged that the temple was converted into a mosque during Babur’s rule in 1529.
After hearing the argument for the next three hours, the court of Civil judge (senior division) Aditya Singh directed Advocate Commissioner Ramesh Chand Raghav to carry out an initial survey of the mosque to see if a temple existed there and sought the survey report by November 29.
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“A survey is being conducted in Sambhal on the orders of the court. Some anti-social elements have pelted stones. Police and senior officers are present on the spot. The situation is under control, the police will identify the stone pelters and take appropriate legal action,” several news agencies quoted top police official Prashant Kumar as saying.
A team comprising members of the managing committee of the Jama Masjid, the petitioner, and local officials reached the mosque by 6:15 pm on Tuesday to carry out the survey.
As the word of the survey spread, hundreds of people belonging to the Muslim community reached the mosque. Anticipating trouble, the place was soon fortified into a high-security zone with a large presence of police personnel.
However, amid the ongoing controversy, nearly 5,000 people had gathered to offer Friday prayers at the 16th-century Jama Masjid.
Given the area’s communal sensitivity, authorities are taking significant precautions. The mosque’s history includes an incident in 1976 when an imam was killed by a member of another community, leading to widespread violence and a month-long curfew, reports TOI.
The mosque was situated roughly 150-200 meters from the ‘Kalki’ temple.
The chaos erupted in the region when around two hours after the survey had begun. A group of protestors had gathered at the location and began pelting stones at security personnel, leading to injuries among the officials.
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The situation was later brought into control after the police used a lathi-charge and applied force to disperse the crowd.
However, the Place of Worship Act, of 1991, prohibits the conversion of any place of worship and provides for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on the 15th day of August, 1947, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
