TTNBC REPORT,
Violence broke out in Sambhal district, Uttar Pradesh, following clashes between police and protestors over the survey of a Mughal-era mosque, resulting in the deaths of at least four Muslim men. The unrest occurred after a local court approved a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, allegedly built over a Hindu temple site, igniting fears of a land grab and communal tensions. The survey, supported by a petition from Hindutva lawyer Hari Shankar Jain, was resisted by the Muslim community, who saw it as an attack on their religious rights.
The violence began with stone-throwing protests and escalated when police responded with tear gas and firearms. At least 25 people have been arrested, and authorities have filed complaints against over 2,000 individuals, including local MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq, who denies accusations of inciting the violence. The district has since been placed under heavy security, with schools closed and internet access suspended.
The unrest has drawn widespread condemnation from opposition parties and human rights groups, with some calling for a judicial inquiry. The survey has reignited religious tensions in India, particularly amid the backdrop of Hindu nationalist politics. The incident has drawn comparisons to the controversial demolition of the Babri Mosque in 1992, which led to nationwide riots.
Opposition leaders accuse the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using the survey to stoke communal divisions, while critics argue it violates the 1991 Place of Worship Act, which prohibits changing the character of places of worship as they stood on August 15, 1947.
As the situation in Sambhal continues to unfold, tensions remain high, highlighting the deepening religious divides in India.
NEWS SOURCES,
ARY NEWS, AL-JAZEERA NEWS, CNN, BBC NEWS, GEO NEWS
