Thursday, 28 November 2024
Thursday, 28 November 2024
A dispute over the Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district escalated into violence on Sunday, prompting police to use tear gas and 'minor force' to control the situation.
The mosque, a Mughal-era structure, has been at the centre of controversy after a petition claimed it was the site of an ancient Harihar temple.
Miscreants pelted stones and set motorcycles ablaze during the clashes. The police detained ten individuals and launched a probe into the violence. The unrest has been brewing since the mosque was first surveyed on November 19, following a local court's directive.
On November 23, Subdivisional magistrate Vandana Mishra revealed that 34 individuals, including the father of Samajwadi Party MP Zia ur Rahman Barq, had been bound down by the administration. They were required to post bonds of up to Rs 10 lakh to ensure peace and avoid further unrest.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged the violence was 'orchestrated' by the ruling BJP. "When a survey of the mosque was already done, why was a new survey conducted again, and that too in the morning and without preparation?" Yadav questioned.
He further accused the BJP-led administration of using the issue to 'provoke emotions' and distract from 'electoral malpractice.'
The case has sparked intense political and public debate, with the next hearing scheduled for January 29. Ahead of Friday prayers, police enforced prohibitory orders, stepped up security, and conducted a flag march in the area to maintain order.
Mayawati, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president, also weighed in on the controversy. "The news of the sudden controversy, hearing, and then the hasty survey regarding the Shahi Jama Masjid of Sambhal district of UP is in the national discussion and media headlines," she stated on November 22 in a post on X. She urged both the Supreme Court and the government to take cognisance of the issue to prevent further unrest.
