Tension prevails in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal after three people were killed in violence that broke out during a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque on Sunday. Scores of people, including 20 security personnel were injured as protesters opposing the survey clashed with police.
According to reports, police used tear gas and batons to disperse the mob who torched several vehicles and pelted stones at the force.
"Shots were fired by the miscreants... the PRO of the superintendent of police suffered a gunshot to the leg, the police circle officer was hit by pellets and 15 to 20 security personnel were injured in the violence," Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh was quoted as saying by PTI.
The deceased have been identified as Nayeem, a resident of Court Karvi; Bilal, a resident of Sarai Tareen, Sambhal; and Noman, a resident of Hayatnagar Sarai Tareen.
Twenty people, including two women, have been detained while a probe has been launched into the incident.
Internet services have been suspended in Sambhal for 24 hours while the district administration has declared a holiday for schools on November 25.
A local court ordered survey of the Jama Masjid after a petition was filed claiming that a Harihar temple had stood at the site.
On Sunday morning, when the ASI team began their work, a group of people gathered near the mosque and started shouting slogans. They started pelting stones when the survey team was leaving the place after their work.
"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," Singh said.
Political war of words begins
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the violence was orchestrated by the BJP and the state government to divert attention from the “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.
The BJP, meanwhile, maintained that nobody has the power to break the law and those those who do not agree with judicial orders should take legal recourse.
"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 Nalin Kohli said.
Kohli alleged that the INDIA alliance has been trying to create unrest since the Lok Sabha polls.