On 24 November 2024, violence erupted during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, a 500 year old mosque in Sambhal in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The survey had been initiated following claims that the mosque was constructed on the ruins of a Hindu temple allegedly demolished during the Mughal period. While the first survey had proceeded peacefully, tension escalated during the second survey when some people accompanying the court-appointed survey commission to the Jama Masjid in Sambhal on Sunday set up a triumphal chant of “Jai Shri Ram” to irritate Muslims, even in the presence of senior police and district officials. This provocation led to violent clashes between local residents and police, who responded with tear gas and other crowd-control measures.[3][4][5][6][7]
| 2024 Sambhal violence[1] | |
|---|---|
 | |
  2024 Sambhal violence (Uttar Pradesh)  2024 Sambhal violence (India) | |
| Location | Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Coordinates | 28°35′00″N 78°34′00″E / 28.5833°N 78.5667°E |
| Date | November 24, 2024 |
| Deaths | 5 Muslims[2][1] |
| Injured | 30 |
| Motive | Dispute over mosque due to a court-ordered survey. |
The incident resulted in the deaths of five Muslim individuals.[1] Scores of others, including around 20 security personnel, were injured.[8][9]
Background
editThe 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.[10] In response to a petition filed by a group of Hindu plaintiffs, led by pro-Hindutva lawyer Hari Shankar Jain and Hindu seer Mahant Rishiraj Giri, as part of a civil suit claiming right for access into the mosque.[11][12] 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. Mosque committee members present during the inspection stated that no evidence or objects supporting the claims were found, and no objectionable symbols were discovered.[13] This incident reflects a broader trend over years, where Hindu nationalist groups have sought judicial intervention to question the origins of Muslim religious sites across India.[14][15][16]
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.[citation needed] 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.[17] Allegations have been made that some people accompanying the court-appointed survey commission at the Jama Masjid in Sambhal chanted “Jai Shri Ram” to provoke Muslims,[18]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,[1] and called for the Supreme Court to investigate the administration’s role.[19]
Reactions
editThe 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."[20]
Aftermath
editThe 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.[21] Additionally, the district administration ordered a 24-hour internet suspension in the Sambhal Tehsil following violence over a mosque survey.[22]
After the violence, 25 people were taken into custody and seven cases were filed against 2,500 people.[23] Those charged include Ziaur Rahman Barq, MP of Sambhal from Samajwadi Party, and Nawab Suhail Iqbal, the son of Iqbal Mehmood, a party associate.[24] The accused in the violence would be booked under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).[25]
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.[26][27]
See Also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Arora, Tanya (29 November 2024). "Sambhal Violence: State crackdown intensifies, thousands accused, and allegations of police misconduct ignite a political and communal crisis in Uttar Pradesh". SabrangIndia (sabrangindia.in). Communalism Combat. Archived from the original on 29 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "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]. Sabrang India (sabrangindia.in) (in Hindi). Communalism Combat. 25 November 2024. Archived from the original on 29 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "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.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "3 killed as mob opposing mosque survey clashes with police in UP's Sambhal". India Today. 24 November 2024. Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ "Sambhal violence: 3 killed in clashes between mob and security personnel over mosque survey". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ "Samajwadi Party MP Among 400 Charged For UP's Sambhal Violence, He Blames Cops". NDTV.com. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Salam, Ziya Us (25 November 2024). "Muslim bodies flay Sambhal mosque survey, demand judicial probe into violence". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "'Well-planned conspiracy by UP CM Adityanath, BJP-RSS': Congress on Sambhal violence". The Indian Express. 24 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ "उत्तर प्रदेश के संभल हिंसा: चार की मौत, जानिए अब तक क्या क्या हुआ है?". BBC News हिंदी (in Hindi). 25 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "UP Sambhal violence: what is the row around the Shahi Jama Masjid". The Indian Express. 24 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ "Uttar Pradesh: Court-Appointed Commissioner Surveys Mughal-Era Mosque Amid Claims of Ancient Hindu Temple". thewire.in. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Shah, Amita (9 February 2024). "God's Advocates". Open The Magazine. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Petition filed claiming Sambhal's Jama masjid built on temple, survey ordered". The Siasat Daily. 20 November 2024. Archived from the original on 21 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ "Thousands of mosques targeted as Hindu nationalists try to rewrite India's history | India | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Sambhal: India city tense after violence over mosque survey". BBC News. 25 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "The insidious campaign to demolish mosques in India". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Survey of Sambhal mosque not done in haste but on orders of advocate commissioner, says lawyer of Hindu side". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ "Sambhal violence: Lens on 'provocative' chant, cop role". The telegraph india.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ India, Press Trust of (24 November 2024). "Sambhal Jama Masjid row: Three killed during protest, 10 detained". The Siasat Daily. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ "BJP behind Sambhal violence, wanted to distract from poll rigging: Akhilesh Yadav". India Today. 24 November 2024. Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ Bharathi, Vartha. "Sambhal violence orchestrated by BJP, govt to divert attention from poll rigging: Akhilesh Yadav". english.varthabharati.in. Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ "Sambhal Mosque Violence: Internet Banned, Schools Closed After 3 Casualties — Key Updates". zeenews.india.com. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ NavbharatLive (25 November 2024). "संभल जामा मस्जिद मामले में 2500 के लोगों के खिलाफ मुकदमा दर्ज, हिंसा में मरने वालों की संख्या 4 की पुष्टि". Navabharat (in Hindi). Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Samajwadi Party MP Among 400 Charged For UP's Sambhal Violence, He Blames Cops". NDTV.com. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Internet Snapped, Schools Shut As Violence Over Mosque Survey Kills 4 In UP's Sambhal". NDTV.com. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Jain, Anmol Kaur Bawa & Debby (29 November 2024). "Sambhal Masjid: Supreme Court Asks Trial Court To Defer Proceedings Till Survey Order Is Challenged In HC, Keep Commissioner Report Sealed". Live Law. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Sambhal mosque survey: SC asks Shahi Jama Masjid management to approach Allahabad HC, tells trial court to halt proceedings". The Indian Express. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.