India
Internet Suspended, Security Increased in UP’s Sambhal: What Led to Violent Clashes? | India News – Times of India
The probe was ordered following a petition filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shanker Jainclaiming that the mosque was originally a temple.
Entering Sambhal without a restricted official permit
The Sambhal District Magistrate issued a notice banning any outsider, social organization or public representative from entering the riot-torn district without orders from authorities.
“The Order No. 942 / Judicial Assistant / Section-163 / 2024 dated 01.10.2024 issued by the undersigned has imposed a prohibitory order under section 163 of the Indian Citizens Security Code, 2023 in district Sambhal, effective till November 30,” the circular said.
“No outside person, other social organizations or public representatives will be allowed to enter Sambhal district without permission from the competent authority. This order will be an integral part of the prohibition order dated 01.10.2024 and will be executed immediately. Violation of this order shall be a punishable offense under Section 223 of the Indian Penal Code, 2023,” it added.
Internet services suspended; citizens are prohibited from purchasing or collecting stones
As a precautionary measure, internet services have been suspended for a day across the district.
In view of the violence, the district administration issued a notice banning citizens from purchasing or collecting rocks, soda bottles or other flammable or explosive materials on their roofs. The notice, issued by the local SDM, warns that strict action will be taken against anyone found violating this order. Moreover, instructions were given to the municipal corporation to immediately seize all construction materials lying on roads.
Around 20 people have been taken into custody following the alleged stone pelting and clashes that broke out during a survey of a mosque in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal on Sunday morning, police said.
What led to clashes?
The tension started on Sunday morning when a large group of people gathered at the mosque and started shouting slogans as the investigation team started their work at the Shahi Jama Masjid.
The protesters tried to set vehicles on fire and pelt stones at police, who used tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd.
“Gunshots were fired by the miscreants and some bullets hit our policemen. We are investigating where the shots came from, especially in the Deepa Sarai area,” an officer said.
Tensions have arisen in Sambhal in recent days after the Jama Masjid was investigated last Tuesday on the orders of a local court following a petition claiming that there was a Harihar temple on the site.
“Some miscreants in the crowd threw stones at the police team. Police used mild force and tear gas to control the situation,” said Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Vishnoi.
“We are in the process of registering an FIR in the incident. The suspect will also be booked under NSA,” the police officer added.
Petitioner Vishnu Shankar Jain had said that the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) had ordered the setting up of an “Advocate Commission” to investigate the mosque. The court has said that a report should be submitted after conducting a video and photography investigation through the commission, he said.
The Central and Uttar Pradesh governments, the Mosque Committee and the District Magistrate of Sambhal have become parties to the petition regarding the Jain Mosque.
‘Attack on Indian democracy and rule of law’: BJP condemns violent protests
Uttar Pradesh Minister Yogendra Upadhyay condemned the pelting of stones at an ASI team investigating a Mughal-era mosque in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal and alleged that everyone under UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s rule was acting according to law and order must live.
“I condemn this action. It is condemnable to ignore the order of the court. Disobeying the court’s order is a major crime… Under the rule of Yogi Adityanath, everyone has to live according to law and order, irrespective of their class or class. status in society,” Upadhyay said.
Reacting to the stone-pelting incident at the probe team, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said it was not just an attack on the government but an attack on Indian democracy and rule of law.
Singh criticized the community responsible for the attack, accusing them of distrust in the country’s democratic institutions and stressed that the nation will not tolerate such actions.
“The attack that was carried out by a community in Sambhal and also on the government machinery, this attack is not on the government machinery but on the democracy and the law of India on which they do not rely. Now the country will not tolerate how this attack was carried out,” Singh said,
‘Well-planned conspiracy by UP CM Adityanath, BJP-RSS’
Meanwhile, the Congress alleged that the Yogi Adityanath government is fully responsible for killing innocents and that only the BJP-RSS is guilty of ‘burning’ the peace and harmony there.
The opposition party said the videos of direct firing at the protesters in Sambhal depict the gruesome outcome of a ‘well-planned conspiracy’ by Adityanath and the BJP-RSS.
“In this entire issue, the BJP did not want the investigation to continue nor did it want to stop it; its sole purpose was to destroy harmony.” Khera said.
“No citizen in Uttar Pradesh is ‘safe’ under CM Adityanath, who gave the objectionable slogan ‘Batenge toh Katenge’. This is clearly evident from the very unfortunate incidents of Sambhal today,” he added.
Western Uttar Pradesh, which has been a symbol of goodwill and harmony for years, today witnessed the death of three people and many injured due to a “well-planned conspiracy”, the Congress leader said.
“We say with full responsibility that the Adityanath government is fully responsible for killing innocents and only the BJP-RSS is guilty of setting fire to the peace and harmony of Sambhal. Modi-Yogi ‘double attack’ governments, which regard the minority community as second-class citizens, were hastily petitioned in the court,” Khera said.
It is common knowledge that the court ordered an immediate investigation without hearing the other side, he said.
“No action was taken against the rioters who accompanied the investigation team. This makes it clear that the Yogi government has further intensified the politics of violence and hatred after the by-elections in the state,” he added.
Khera said that Rahul Gandhi is constantly and shrilly being talked about on ‘Nafrat Ke Bazaar Mein Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’ and in such a situation the people of Sambhal are being appealed to recognize the politics of hatred and promote unity, friendship among themselves and maintain harmony. and take steps to legally protect their rights.
