2024 Sambhal violence explained

2024 Sambhal violence[1]
Location:Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, India
Caption:Shahi Jama Masjid, Sambhal
Fatalities:5[2]
Injuries:30
Motive:Dispute over mosque due to a court-ordered survey.

On 24 November 2024, violence erupted during a court-ordered Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, a 500-year old mosque in Sambhal, protected by ASI, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The survey had been initiated to determine the religious nature of the structure, following claims that there were unauthorized construction done by the mosque management committee and the mosque was constructed on the ruins of a Hindu temple demolished during the Mughal period.[3] [4] While the first survey had proceeded peacefully, tension escalated during the second survey when the wuzu khana (ablution tank) used before prayer in the mosque, had been drained, allegedly to check the depth, leading to rumours of the mosque being dug up. The President of the Masjid committee tried to convince people that the mosque was not being broken. While some were reassured and left, others remained enraged.[5] [6]

The incident resulted in the deaths of five individuals.[1] Scores of others, including around 20 security personnel, were injured.[7] [8] Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal, Zia Ur Rahman Barq, and his party colleague Iqbal Mahmood's son Nawab Suhail Iqbal were charged by the UP police.

Events

Hindus consider Sambhal as sacred as many puranas and other texts consider the city to be the birth place of Kalki, the tenth avatar/incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The Shahi Jama Masjid, located in Sambhal, has been at the center of dispute following claims that it was constructed on the ruins of a Shri Hari temple allegedly demolished by the Mughal ruler Babur in the early 16th century.[9] In response to a petition filed by a group of Hindu plaintiffs, led by lawyer Hari Shankar Jain and Hindu seer Mahant Rishiraj Giri, as part of a civil suit claiming right for access into the mosque.[10] [11] the Sambhal civil court ordered a survey of the mosque premises. The survey was conducted under the supervision of an advocate commissioner, district magistrate, and police. The survey aimed to investigate claims that the mosque was built over a demolished Hindu temple.

The ASI submitted a response in the court, and raised concerns that unauthorized changes to the mosque's structure by the management committee are unlawful and should be restricted.[12] [13]

The mosque is a protected monument, designated as such under the Ancient Monuments Protection Act, 1904, where worship is not allowed to preserve its historical integrity. The Hindu side's lawyer claimed that confusion over the routine draining of an ablution tank during the survey sparked tensions, leading to the belief among those gathered outside that excavation was taking place.[14]

The opposition MPs have made allegations that some people accompanying the court-appointed survey commission at the mosque chanted “Jai Shri Ram” to provoke Muslims,[15] in the presence of senior police and district officials, with a video of the incident going viral. Opposition MPs in Uttar Pradesh claimed police highhandedness contributed to the mob violence, which claimed five lives,[16] [17] and called for the Supreme Court to investigate the administration’s role.[18] [19] [20]

Reactions

The Samajwadi Party (SP) criticized the Uttar Pradesh government and the BJP over the survey. SP spokesperson Ameeque Jamei accused the BJP of provoking unrest for political gains. He said, "The Sambhal police and administration, along with the BJP, have been provoking people in the Shahi Masjid issue in the name of an ASI survey. This comes a day after the BJP claimed that it got Muslim votes in Kundarki. Is this the reward that the BJP is giving for Kundarki? What does the Places of Worship Act, 1991, say... barring the Babri Masjid and Ram Mandir issue, no other structure will be touched or changed... Exactly after the elections, the BJP has started its game once again. This game of BJP is not good for the integrity of this nation; BJP is trying to divide society."[21]

Aftermath

The Uttar Pradesh administration imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Sambhal to prevent further gatherings and potential violence. Investigations were launched to determine the causes and handling of the unrest.[22] Additionally, the district administration ordered a 24-hour internet suspension in the Sambhal Tehsil following violence over a mosque survey.[23]

After the violence, 25 people were taken into custody and seven cases were filed against 2,500 people.[24] Those charged include Zia ur Rahman Barq, MP of Sambhal from Samajwadi Party, and Nawab Suhail Iqbal, the son of Iqbal Mehmood, a party associate.[25] The accused in the violence would be booked under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).[26]

On November 29, 2024, the Supreme Court directed the Sambhal Trial Court to pause proceedings against the Shahi Jama Masjid until the Allahabad High Court hears the Masjid Committee's challenge to a survey order. The Court ordered the survey report to remain sealed and emphasized maintaining peace in the region.[27] [28]

See Also

Notes and References

  1. News: Arora . Tanya . Sambhal Violence: State crackdown intensifies, thousands accused, and allegations of police misconduct ignite a political and communal crisis in Uttar Pradesh . 29 November 2024 . SabrangIndia (sabrangindia.in) . Communalism Combat . 29 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241129222813/https://sabrangindia.in/sambhal-violence-state-crackdown-intensifies-thousands-accused-and-allegations-of-police-misconduct-ignite-a-political-and-communal-crisis-in-uttar-pradesh/ . 29 November 2024 . en . live.
  2. News: उत्तर प्रदेश: मस्जिद सर्वे के खिलाफ प्रदर्शन में अब तक 5 लोगों की मौत, 30 नवंबर तक बाहरी लोगों के एंट्री पर रोक . Uttar Pradesh: 5 people dead so far in protest against mosque survey, entry of outsiders banned till November 30 . 25 November 2024 . Sabrang India (sabrangindia.in) . Communalism Combat . 25 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241129221536/https://hindi.sabrangindia.in/article/Uttar-Pradesh-5-people-dead-so-far-in-protest-against-mosque-survey-entry-of-outsiders-banned-till-November-30 . 29 November 2024 . hi . live.
  3. News: PTI . 2024-12-01 . Sambhal mosque: ASI files response in court; seeks control, management of Mughal-era structure . 2024-12-03 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X.
  4. Web site: 2024-12-02 . 'Original Form Lost': ASI Says Sambhal Jama Masjid's Historical Integrity Altered . 2024-12-03 . Times Now . en.
  5. News: Tewari . Samridhi . 2024-11-29 . Sambhal: Another city split into green and saffron . 2024-12-02 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X.
  6. Web site: 30 November 2024 . Sambhal Police Violence Against Muslim Protesters: Death Toll Rises to 5 . Hindutva Watch.
  7. Web site: 2024-11-24 . ‘Well-planned conspiracy by UP CM Adityanath, BJP-RSS’: Congress on Sambhal violence . 2024-11-24 . The Indian Express . en.
  8. Web site: 2024-11-25 . उत्तर प्रदेश के संभल हिंसा: चार की मौत, जानिए अब तक क्या क्या हुआ है? . 2024-11-25 . BBC News हिंदी . hi.
  9. Web site: 2024-11-24 . UP Sambhal violence: what is the row around the Shahi Jama Masjid . 2024-11-24 . The Indian Express . en.
  10. Web site: Uttar Pradesh: Court-Appointed Commissioner Surveys Mughal-Era Mosque Amid Claims of Ancient Hindu Temple . 2024-11-25 . thewire.in.
  11. Web site: Shah . Amita . 2024-02-09 . God’s Advocates . 2024-11-25 . Open The Magazine . en-GB . 17 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240617165108/https://openthemagazine.com/feature/gods-advocates/#google_vignette . live .
  12. Web site: ASI Seeks Control, Management of Sambhal Mosque, Tells Court It Faced Resistance While Conducting Survey . 2024-12-03 . thewire.in . en.
  13. Web site: Sambhal Violence: ASI Files Response In Court; Seeks Management Of Mughal-Era Structure . 2024-12-03 . NDTV.com.
  14. Web site: Survey of Sambhal mosque not done in haste but on orders of advocate commissioner, says lawyer of Hindu side . 2024-11-28 . Deccan Herald . en.
  15. News: Sambhal violence: Lens on ‘provocative’ chant, cop role . The telegraph india.
  16. Web site: Sambhal violence: Lens on ‘provocative’ chant, cop role Some people who were with the commission were chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’. As the local people opposed this, the police opened fire and killed four people . The Telegraph India.
  17. News: Ziya Us Salam . 2024-11-25 . Muslim bodies flay Sambhal mosque survey, demand judicial probe into violence . 2024-11-27 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X.
  18. Web site: PTI . 2024-11-24 . Sambhal Jama Masjid row: Three killed during protest, 10 detained . 2024-11-28 . The Siasat Daily . en-US.
  19. News: 24 November 2024 . Sambhal violence: Lens on ‘provocative’ chant, cop role . The Telegraph India.
  20. Web site: 28 November 2024 . Fact Check: Is Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid Not Covered Under Places of Worship Act? . Timeline Daily.
  21. Web site: 2024-11-24 . BJP behind Sambhal violence, wanted to distract from poll rigging: Akhilesh Yadav . 2024-11-24 . India Today . en . 24 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241124144155/https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india/story/sambhal-violence-in-uttar-pradesh-akhilesh-yadav-accuses-bjp-attack-to-avoid-bypoll-rigging-2639278-2024-11-24 . live .
  22. Web site: Bharathi . Vartha . Sambhal violence orchestrated by BJP, govt to divert attention from poll rigging: Akhilesh Yadav . 2024-11-24 . english.varthabharati.in . en . 24 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241124165208/https://english.varthabharati.in/india/sambhal-violence-orchestrated-by-bjp-govt-to-divert-attention-from-poll-rigging-akhilesh-yadav . live .
  23. Web site: Sambhal Mosque Violence: Internet Banned, Schools Closed After 3 Casualties — Key Updates . 2024-11-24 . zeenews.india.com.
  24. Web site: 2024-11-25 . संभल जामा मस्जिद मामले में 2500 के लोगों के खिलाफ मुकदमा दर्ज, हिंसा में मरने वालों की संख्या 4 की पुष्टि . 2024-11-25 . Navabharat . hi.
  25. Web site: Samajwadi Party MP Among 400 Charged For UP's Sambhal Violence, He Blames Cops . 2024-11-25 . NDTV.com.
  26. Web site: Internet Snapped, Schools Shut As Violence Over Mosque Survey Kills 4 In UP's Sambhal . 2024-11-25 . NDTV.com.
  27. Web site: Debby Jain . Anmol Kaur Bawa . 2024-11-29 . Sambhal Masjid: Supreme Court Asks Trial Court To Defer Proceedings Till Survey Order Is Challenged In HC, Keep Commissioner Report Sealed . 2024-11-29 . Live Law . en.
  28. Web site: 2024-11-29 . Sambhal mosque survey: SC asks Shahi Jama Masjid management to approach Allahabad HC, tells trial court to halt proceedings . 2024-11-29 . The Indian Express . en.

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