Three dead as protest against mosque survey in UP’s Sambhal turns violent | India News – Times of India

BAREILLY: Three people were killed and several others, including around 20 police personnel, injured when a court-ordered probe at the Mughal-era Jama Masjid in Sambhal turned into violent clashes on Sunday morning. Till last reports, three people, including a police officer who was injured in the shooting, were reported critical.
About a dozen people, including two women, have been arrested.
The probe was ordered following a petition filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shanker Jain, alleging that the mosque was originally a temple.

The survey, conducted by a team of Archaeological Survey of India under the supervision of Judicial Commissioner Ramesh Singh and in the presence of DM Rajendra Pensia, SP Krishan Kumar and other officials, started at 7 am and was initially peaceful. Around 9 a.m., a crowd gathered outside the mosque, reportedly shouting slogans and pelting stones on police personnel.
Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Singh said, “A crowd of 2,000 to 3,000 people gathered and threw stones at the police personnel stationed for security. Despite initial attempts to disperse them with tear gas and lathi charges, the crowd intensified its attack and started firing from nearby houses leading to injuries among officers including SP PRO SDM Ramesh Babu and circle officer Anuj Chaudhary, who was hit by pellets. Singh said the SDM suffered fractures and more than a dozen police officers were injured. The mob also set fire to several vehicles.
The unrest later spread to Deep Sarai, where people reportedly threw stones at police from homes. “Children aged 12 to 15 were used as shields, and many of the perpetrators were under 25 years old. Several women were also involved,” Singh said.