3 weeks ago
Sambhal Mob Intended to Attack Survey Team, Court Commissioner Says
In the town of Sambhal in India, a court asked officials to check an old mosque called the Shahi Jama Masjid.
Some people had told the court that the mosque was built where an old Hindu temple once stood.
While officials were doing the check, a big crowd gathered and there was violence.
Four people were killed and many police officers were hurt.
The government formed a special team of retired officers to find out what happened.
The team said the violence was planned ahead of time and that the crowd wanted to stop the court's check.
It also said the police did a good job keeping the violence from spreading to other places.
The person who led the survey said the crowd wanted to attack the survey team.
The leader of the mosque committee declined to comment on the report, while the Hindu side's lawyer wants the report discussed fully in the Assembly.
The Uttar Pradesh Assembly tabled the judicial commission's report on the November 2024 Sambhal violence.
Court Commissioner Ramesh Raghav alleged the mob intended to attack the survey team and prevent the court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid.
The commission concluded the clashes were the result of a pre-planned conspiracy and praised police and civil administration for preventing wider communal riots.
Four people were killed and 28 police personnel were injured in the clashes on November 24, 2024.
Cases were registered against Sambhal MP Zia-ur-Rahman Barq, mosque committee president Zafar Ali, and thousands of unidentified persons.
- Who
- Court Commissioner Ramesh Raghav; a judicial commission led by retired Justice Devendra Kumar Arora; Hindu-side advocate Gopal Sharma; mosque committee president Zafar Ali and Sambhal MP Zia-ur-Rahman Barq, against whom cases were registered.
- What
- A court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid triggered violence in Sambhal, killing four people and injuring 28 police personnel; the judicial commission concluded the clashes were a pre-planned conspiracy and the mob intended to attack the survey team.
- Where
- Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- When
- Violence occurred on November 24, 2024, during the second phase of the survey; the first phase took place on November 19, 2024.
- Why
- The survey was court-ordered after a petition claimed the mosque was built over the site of an ancient Harihar temple, and the crowd allegedly wanted to attack the survey team and stop the exercise.
Mosque Committee's Stance
Hindu Petitioners' Stance
Response to the Judicial Commission Report
Mosque Committee's Stance
Shahi Jama Masjid Intazamia Committee president Zafar Ali declined to comment on the report.
Hindu Petitioners' Stance
Advocate Gopal Sharma, appearing for the Hindu side, said the commission conducted a thorough probe and the report deserves detailed discussion in the Assembly.
Cause of the November 24 Violence
Mosque Committee's Stance
No direct response from the Muslim side was recorded; the committee president declined to comment on the findings.
Hindu Petitioners' Stance
Court Commissioner Ramesh Raghav and advocate Gopal Sharma said the crowd intended to attack the survey team and administrative officials, and the commission called the violence pre-planned.
Accountability and Punishment
Mosque Committee's Stance
Cases were registered against Sambhal MP Zia-ur-Rahman Barq and committee president Zafar Ali, who has not commented publicly.
Hindu Petitioners' Stance
Mahant Yogi Deenanath of Kshem Nath Tirth said whoever is guilty should be punished under the law, whether an ordinary citizen or someone holding high public office.
Key facts
- Event
- Violence during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal
- Date of violence
- November 24, 2024
- Killed
- 4 people
- Injured
- 28 police personnel
- Commission members
- Retired Justice Devendra Kumar Arora, retired DGP Arvind Kumar Jain, retired IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad
- Key finding
- Clashes were a pre-planned conspiracy; crowd intended to attack the survey team
- Cases registered against
- MP Zia-ur-Rahman Barq, Zafar Ali, and thousands of unidentified persons
- Civil suit filed
- November 19, 2024, by eight petitioners, pending before Civil Judge (Senior Division) Aditya Singh
Quotes
Advocate Gopal Sharma
Advocate representing the Hindu side in the mosque‑temple dispute
“On November 19, the survey remained incomplete after a large number of people entered the mosque premises and obstructed the exercise. We requested the district administration to make arrangements for the remaining survey, which was resumed on November 24.”
thehansindia.com
“"The intention of those gathered that day was to attack the survey team and administrative officials, but adequate security arrangements prevented that from happening."”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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