Sambhal Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishan Kumar who on Sunday morning arrived to take stock of the incident of stone pelting at an ASI team surveying a Mugha-era mosque in Sambhal assured that the law and order situation has been brought under control and that peace was restored in the area.
The survey of the mosque was successfully completed despite the chaos, the official said asserting that stringent action will be taken against the accused after their identification.
The Superintendant of Police also said that some of the vehicles of sub-inspectors of police parked near the premises of Jama Masjid were set on fire and several properties in the area suffered damages during the stone pelting incident.
“As per the orders of the Court, the survey of Jama Masjid in Sambhal district was conducted. Some people gathered to protest against the survey and started pelting stones at the time when the survey was being conducted. Police have responded to this and some of the vehicles of sub-inspectors parked near the premises of Jama Masjid have been set on fire. The law and order is under control now. Peace and order prevails everywhere,” the police superintendent told ANI.
Further he added, “Duties are being imposed again and the survey has been completed successfully. Videography has been done with drones and with the help of CCTV cameras, all these people will be identified and action is taken against them.”
Meanwhile, Senior advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain spoke to ANI about the survey and said that in compliance with the Court’s order issued on November 19, the second-day survey was conducted on Sunday by the Advocate Commissioner.
He confirmed that all features were examined, and the videography and photography as directed by the Court were completed. Jain added that the survey has now concluded, and the report will be submitted to the court by November 29.
“In compliance with the order of the court passed on November 19, the second day’s survey was conducted by Advocate Commissioner today from 7:30 am to 10 am. During this survey, all features were studied. Videography and photography directed by the Court have been complied with and now this survey has been completed. The report will be presented before the Court before November 29 on November 29,” said Advocate Jain.
State Minister Jaiveer Singh condemned the stone pelting in Sambhal today, terming it as “hooliganism” and “disrespect” of the court’s order.
“People of the particular religion are considering themselves above the Constitution, law and judiciary. The government under the leadership of PM Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath will make everyone abide by the law. Such hooliganism and disrespect of the court’s order is not going to work. No one should be allowed to do such kind of acts in the name of their religion,” said Singh.
Earlier in the day, DGP of Uttar Pradesh Prashant Kumar said that a survey was being conducted in Sambhal on the orders of the court.
The DGP said that the stones were pelted by some “anti-social elements” and police and senior officers were present on the spot to bring the situation under control.
An ASI team that arrived at the Shahi Jama Masjid to conduct a survey of the mosque in Sambhal district amid heavy police deployment faced stone-pelting from some “anti-social elements” on Sunday morning, police said.
This survey was part of a legal process following a petition filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shanker Jain, who claimed the mosque was originally a temple.
A similar survey was previously conducted on November 19, with local police and members of the mosque’s management committee present to oversee the process.
