3 dead, internet suspended: How a mosque survey in UP’s Sambhal led to violent clashes

Sambhal, a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, is on edge — prohibitory orders have been imposed, schools are shut, and the internet is suspended — after violence broke out over a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in the area.

The clashes, which resulted in the deaths of three people and scores of others getting injured, have also resulted in a political blame game with the opposition leaders blaming the ruling BJP, alleging the survey team was sent to the mosque by the party to nurture its “politics of hatred”.

But what exactly happened? And what has been the aftermath of the violence? We analyse and get you the answers.

Shahi Jama Mosque survey that started it all

The violence in Sambhal broke out when a team of surveyors reached Chandausi town to carry out a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid.

The survey was ordered by a local court on Tuesday (November 19) after a senior advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain filed a petition stating that a temple had been demolished to erect the mosque in 1526. The plea stated that a “centuries old Shri Hari Har Temple dedicated to Lord Kalki in the heart of the city of Sambhal which is being used forcibly and unlawfully” by the Jama Masjid Committee.

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The petitioner further argued that the monument is protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and under section 18 of the Act, the public has the “right of access to protected monument”.

Incidentally, Vishnu Shankar Jain and his father Hari Shankar Jain have represented the Hindu side in many cases related to places of worship, including the Gyanvapi Mosque-Kashi Vishwanath temple dispute .

Acting on this petition, Civil Judge (Senior Division), Sambhal at Chandausi Aditya Singh ordered an advocate commissioner to carry out an initial survey on the same day. The court also directed that a report of the survey be filed before it by November 29.

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Violence unfolds in Sambhal

As officials couldn’t finish their survey on Tuesday, they decided to return on Sunday morning in order to avoid interference with prayers that are usually held in the afternoon.

However, this is when all the trouble started; as officials reached the Shahi Jama Masjid, they encountered a large group of people who were shouting slogans.

According to authorities, the group of protesters quickly turned angry and began torching vehicles in the area and pelting stones at the police who had gathered at the spot. In an effort to quell the violence, the police then used tear gas and batons to disperse the mob.

As per the Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, amid this chaos, shots were fired resulting in the deaths of three people — who were later identified as Naeem, Bilal and Nauman.

Additionally, others were also injured in the violence, including around 20 security personnel and four personnel of the administration. “The PRO of the superintendent of police suffered a gunshot to the leg, the police circle officer was hit by pellets, said Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, adding that a constable also suffered a serious head injury, while the deputy collector fractured his leg.

District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya said, “The casualty count stands at three. The reason for the death of two of them is clear — bullet wounds from countrymade pistols. The reason for the death of the third person is not clear, but it will be after the post-mortem examination.”

According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishan Kumar, the violence broke out when the survey team was leaving the premises of the Shahi Jama Masjid as protesters started pelting stones. “There were groups on three sides. One from the front, one from the right and one from the left. They were continuously pelting stones. Police used force so that the survey team could be taken out and escorted safely. Tear gas shells were also fired. Plastic bullets were used.”

Visuals that are circulating online show the public pelting stones at the cops from buildings in the area. There was also footage of police personnel hitting people.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi posted a video on X of police officers directly firing during the violence. In the video, DIG Range Muniraj is seen firing a pistol and is heard asking the policemen to fire. However, the Sambhal police have denied firing.

पूरा एक सिस्टम है जो खुलेआम देश के मुसलमानों को अपना दुश्मन मानकर व्यवहार कर रहा है, संभल में जिस तरह से प्रदर्शनकारियों पर सीधे फायरिंग करने के वीडियो आये हैं वो ये बताते हैं कि पूरी तैयारी से प्रशासन ने लोगों की जान ली है, आनन फानन में याचिका दाखिल होना, तुरंत सर्वे का आदेश… pic.twitter.com/9dWO4YhbHx

— Imran Pratapgarhi (@ShayarImran) November 24, 2024

Aftermath of Sambhal violence

The police have begun a probe into the matter, adding those accused in the violence would be booked under the stringent National Security Act. So far, 15 people, including two women have been detained.

Cops said that the mobiles of those detained were being checked. Moreover, internet services have been suspended in the area for 24 hours while schools have been ordered to remain shut today (November 25).

SP Krishan Kumar said, “So far, 15 people have been detained… This is definitely an act of provocation in which lives have also been lost.

He has urged people to remain calm and added that the authorities have called in forces from outside to ensure that the situation is kept under control.

The police have also recovered several kinds of weapons from those detained. “Many shells of different bores have been recovered at the spot where the firing took place,” a police officer was quoted as saying.

To keep calm in the area, the sub-district magistrate has also issued a notice prohibiting the citizens from buying or collecting stones, soda bottles, or flammable or explosive material on their roof, reported the Times of India.

Political blame game over Sambhal

The violence in Sambhal also led to a political blame game with the opposition parties blaming the BJP for the situation. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav lashed out at the BJP, saying its government and the administration orchestrated the violence “to divert attention from electoral malpractice”.

“A survey team was deliberately sent in the morning to disrupt discussions about the election. The intention was to create chaos so that no debate on election issues could happen,” he said.

Congress’ UP chief Ajay Rai also said that violence in UP was increasing day by day under the Yogi Adityanath government. “When the chief minister of the state himself gives statements like ‘batenge toh katenge,’ then how can there be an atmosphere of peace in the state? This is a completely planned incident,” Rai in a statement said.

Sudhakar Yadav, the secretary of the CPI (Marxist-Leninist), added that the BJP, emboldened by its recent wins, was fuelling polarisation of communities and wanted to throw the state into the fire of communalism. Tearing the fabric of peace, and polarising communities was all in a good day’s work for the “saffron brigade,” he alleged.

However, the BJP has countered by saying that the INDI Alliance was trying to create unrest. BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said, “Nobody has any right to break the law. If a court has passed an order, it will be implemented. The judicial process is available for those who want the order amended.”

BJP spokesperson Ajay Alok also blamed what he called the “ghamandia alliance” for the violence.

With inputs from agencies