Vikrant Shekhawat : Nov 24, 2024, 08:40 PM
Sambhal Violence: The violence that erupted during the survey of Jama Masjid in Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh has made the situation tense. Three youths have died in this incident, while many have been injured in clashes between police and locals. After the violence, internet services have been shut down in the area and a large number of police forces have been deployed.What happened in Sambhal?The team that arrived to conduct the survey on the orders of the court on Saturday morning was fiercely opposed by the local people. As soon as the Advocate Commissioner and his team reached the mosque, a crowd of about 300 people started pelting stones. The situation worsened so much that the police had to fire tear gas shells. Many policemen including the SP have been injured in this violence.Three killed in violenceThree youths named Naeem Khan, Bilal, and Noman died in the violence. The family of the deceased has alleged that the police opened fire, causing their death. However, the police rejected this allegation and claimed that they did not fire any bullet.People started leaving their homesPeople living around Jama Masjid have started leaving their homes in an atmosphere of fear. Women and children were seen packing their belongings and leaving the area.Controversy over survey: Mosque or temple?This dispute in Sambhal started with the claim of the Hindu side, which said that this mosque was built on the site of an ancient Hindu temple. The court had ordered a survey of the mosque to investigate this claim. Advocate Commissioner Vishnu Shankar Jain said that the survey and videography inside the mosque has been completed. Now the report will be presented in the court on November 29.Was the violence planned?Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain called this violence a well-planned conspiracy. He said that the attack was carried out to scare the survey team and stop the investigation. Jain alleged that this was the result of inflammatory statements of leaders, whose aim was to prevent the truth from coming out.Administration actionAfter the violence and arson, the police have detained 15 people, including two women. The area has been completely sealed, and police teams are checking video footage to identify the suspects.Internet services suspendedIn view of the tense atmosphere, internet services have been suspended in Sambhal. Police are patrolling every street and intersection.Debate on Place of Worship ActAccording to advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, the Place of Worship Act does not apply to Jama Masjid. He said that the building is in the protected list of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and the Act does not apply in such cases.Next stepsDespite the violence, the survey team has completed its work. Now the further action will be clear only after the report is presented in the court. This incident has made the atmosphere of Sambhal tense, and restoring peace has become the biggest challenge for the administration.ConclusionThis incident in Sambhal underlines the need to maintain peace amid religious disputes and sensitive issues. This is the time for the administration and the society to act with caution and understanding, so that mutual solutions can be given priority instead of conflicts.