UP: Violent Mob Pelts Stones At Officials During Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid Survey; Police Use Tear Gas to Disperse Crowd

A team of officials surveying the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, faced stone pelting by a mob on Sunday (24 November) morning, leading the police to use mild force to control the situation.

The survey was conducted following a local court's directive after a petition claimed that the mosque was built on the site of an ancient Harihar temple.

The court ordered the use of videography and photography to document the site.

After the mob pelted stones, the police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, Hindustan Times reported.

The petition, filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shanker Jain, claims that Mughal king Babar partially demolished the Harihar temple in 1529 and constructed the mosque.

Jain highlighted the historical and religious significance of the alleged Harihar temple.

"The Harihar temple is central to our faith, and the area is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Signs of a Hindu temple are evident at the site," he had claimed.

Vishnu Shanker Jain, along with his father Hari Shanker Jain, has represented Hindu groups in high-profile cases, including the Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath dispute.

In the court, advocate Gopal Sharma, representing the Hindu side, cited historical texts like Babar Nama and Ain-e-Akbari to support the claim. The case is set for its next hearing on 29 January.

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