- विज्ञापन -
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government, led by Yogi Adityanath, has announced a judicial inquiry into the recent violence in Sambhal that resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals.
The Uttar Pradesh Home Department has established a three-member committee to investigate the incident, which will be chaired by retired High Court judge Devendra Kumar Arora. The other members include retired IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad and former IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain. The committee has been tasked with submitting its findings within two months.
The Home Department’s order, issued on Thursday, emphasized the need to determine whether the violence that occurred on November 24, 2024, during a court-ordered survey related to the Jama Masjid vs. Harihar Mandir dispute, was a premeditated conspiracy or a spontaneous criminal act. The violence resulted in injuries to several police personnel, the deaths of four individuals, and significant property damage.
Tensions escalated in Sambhal during the second survey of the historical Jama Masjid after locals began throwing stones at the police. The survey, which started around 7 a.m., attracted a gathering of people who initially protested peacefully before some began to hurl stones at law enforcement, according to Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Vishnoi.
Police reported that the stone pelting came from three groups positioned in different directions as the survey team attempted to exit the area safely. Some attackers also attempted to vandalize and ignite vehicles, leading to gunfire that resulted in the deaths of three youths and injuries to several police officers and officials.
On the day of the incident, Sambhal District Magistrate Rajendra Painsia stated that the survey was being conducted in accordance with court orders. He noted that the previous survey had been disrupted and that the time slot of 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. was chosen to avoid any disruption since no prayers were held during that period. However, he acknowledged that some miscreants outside the survey area initiated the violence.
The Supreme Court had mandated the survey following a petition asserting that the mosque was originally the site of the Harihar temple, which was allegedly destroyed by Mughal Emperor Babar to construct the mosque.
