Police Arrest Dozens In India’s Sambhal After Mosque Survey

Police have arrested dozens of people, shut down the internet, closed schools, and tightened security in Sambhal district of India’s Uttar Pradesh state after deadly violence erupted over a survey of a Mughal-era mosque.

At least three Muslim men – Naeem, Bilal, and Noman – were killed on Sunday as people opposed to the court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal clashed with police, according to local media reports. The death toll rose to four after a 19-year-old man succumbed to his injuries.

“All schools and colleges have been closed and public gatherings have been prohibited” in Sambhal, said a senior police officer, Aunjaneya Kumar Singh.

Authorities also banned outsiders, social organisations and public representatives from entering the city without official permission until November 30, Singh said, as the government scrambled to contain the unrest.

At least 25 people have been arrested and police complaints have been filed against some 2,500 people, including local Member of Parliament Zia-ur-Rehman Barq from the regional Samajwadi Party (SP), according to Sambhal police chief Krishan Kumar Bishnoi.

Burq has been accused of inciting the mob, a charge he denied.

“It is so unfortunate, it is a preplanned incident. Across the country, Muslims are being targeted,” he said.

Survey Of Mosque

Earlier, a local court allowed the survey on the back of a petition filed by eight plaintiffs led by pro-Hindutva lawyer Hari Shankar Jain that claimed the 16th-century mosque was built on the site of a Hindu temple, officials said.

Sunday’s survey, the second in five days, was opposed by the local community who fear it was an attempt to take over the mosque and foment communal tensions. The first survey conducted on November 19 was completed with the cooperation of the local community.

Muslims say the court rushed with the survey and they were not given a chance to present their case.

Al Jazeera/Ejiofor Ezeifeoma