Sambhal mosque survey clashes: Toll rises to four

THE TOLL in the clashes between police and protesters opposing a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, rose to four following the death of one more injured person, officials said on Monday.

Police have lodged seven FIRs in connection with the Sunday's violence naming Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq, who represents Sambhal, and local SP MLA Iqbal Mehmood's son Sohail Iqbal as accused.

The district administration has already imposed prohibitory orders and barred the entry of outsiders till November 30.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Moradabad) Muniraj said one person injured in the violence died during treatment.

He didn't disclose the victim's identity.

District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya said late on Sunday that the prohibitory order had been issued under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

"No outsiders, other social organisations or public representatives will enter the district border without the permission of the competent officer," said the order, which came into force with immediate effect.

Violation of the order will be punishable under Section 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the BNS.

Earlier, Muniraj told reporters that Naeem, Bilal and Nauman - the three men who died in Sunday's violence - had been buried.

All three were aged about 25.

The officer added that those involved in the violence were being identified on the basis of available videos and action would be taken against them.

"Right now, we are engaged in maintaining peace and the situation is under control," he said.

Violence broke out in the district on Sunday as protesters opposing the survey of the Jama Masjid clashed with security personnel. The protesters torched vehicles and pelted the police with stones while the security personnel used tear gas and batons to disperse the mob.

Police crackdown

Twenty-five people, including two women, have been arrested and a probe has been launched, the official had said, adding that those accused in the violence would be booked under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).

The reason for the deaths of two is clear - bullet wounds from countrymade pistols. The reason for the death of the third person is not clear but it will be after post-mortem."

Internet services were soon suspended in Sambhal tehsil for 24 hours and the district administration declared a holiday in all schools for Monday.

Tension had been brewing in Sambhal since November 19 when the Jama Masjid was first surveyed on the court's orders following a petition claiming that a Harihar temple had stood at the site.

On Sunday, trouble started early when a large group of people gathered near the mosque and started shouting slogans as the survey team began its work.

District officials said the survey could not be completed on Tuesday and was planned for Sunday to avoid interference with afternoon prayers.

Legal tangle

Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, who is a petitioner in the case, had earlier said the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) ordered the constitution of an "advocate commission" to survey the mosque.

The court has said a report should be filed after conducting a videography and photography survey through the commission, he had said.

On Sunday, Jain urged the Archaeological Survey of India to take control of the "temple".

Gopal Sharma, a local lawyer for the Hindu side, had earlier claimed the temple that once stood at the site was demolished by Mughal emperor Babur in 1529.

Congress party demand

A day after violence rocked Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, the Congress on Monday accused the BJP of creating a rift between Hindus and Muslims and urged the Supreme Court to intervene in the matter as soon as possible.

Three people were killed and scores of others, including security personnel and administration officials, injured on Sunday as protesters opposing a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal clashed with police. A fourth injured person died on Monday.

In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, "The biased and hasty attitude of the state government on the recent dispute in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, is extremely unfortunate. I express my deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the violence and firing."

Opposition MPs slam BJP

Opposition members of Parliament on Monday slammed the government and the ruling BJP over the violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, saying it was planned to polarise people on communal lines.

However, BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj dubbed the violence as "pre-planned", saying it was instigated by those who have been taken aback by his party's rise in the country.

Samajwadi Party leader Dharmendra Yadav said the incident was unfortunate and the party would raise it in both Houses of Parliament.

Sambhal MP Ziaur Rahman Barq said the incident was "pre-planned" and members of the Muslim community were being targeted.

The Congress' Saharanpur MP Imran Masood alleged that the violence was state-sponsored as police were also involved.

In the Lok Sabha too, some opposition members tried to raise the issue as soon as the House met for the day. (PTI)