Sambhal District Administration Imposes Prohibitory Orders After Violent Clashes Over Mosque Survey
Sambhal, Nov 25: The district administration in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, has imposed prohibitory orders and barred the entry of outsiders until November 30, following violent protests over a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque. The violence, which resulted in the deaths of three men and injuries to several others, including security and administration personnel, prompted the authorities to take action.
The orders were issued under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) by District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya on Sunday, with an immediate effect. The order prohibits outsiders, social organizations, or public representatives from entering the district without the permission of the competent officer. Violation of the order will be punishable under Section 223 of the BNS.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Moradabad), Muniraj, confirmed on Monday that the three victims—Naeem, Bilal, and Nauman—aged around 25, had been buried. Authorities are working on identifying those responsible for the violence, aided by available video footage, and further action will be taken accordingly.
The violence erupted on Sunday when protesters, opposing the survey of the Jama Masjid, clashed with security forces. The protesters set vehicles on fire, pelted stones at the police, and engaged in violent altercations. In response, security personnel used tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd. Reports indicated that shots were fired, injuring multiple officials, including a police PRO who was shot in the leg, a circle officer who was hit by pellets, and several other officers who sustained injuries. A constable and a deputy collector also suffered serious injuries.
As a result of the unrest, 21 individuals, including two women, have been detained, and a thorough investigation is underway. Those found responsible for the violence will be booked under the National Security Act (NSA).
The violence is linked to the survey of the Jama Masjid, which began on November 19 following a petition claiming that the site was once home to a Harihar temple. The court had ordered a survey of the mosque, which was supposed to be completed on Sunday but faced resistance from local protesters. The Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, who had petitioned for the survey, urged the Archaeological Survey of India to oversee the process and take control of the site.
Tensions have been high in Sambhal since the survey began, and the district administration responded by suspending internet services for 24 hours in the Sambhal tehsil and declaring a holiday in all schools on Monday to prevent further unrest.
