A survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, was completed on Sunday, with the report set to be submitted to the court on 29 November.
The court had ordered the survey following a petition by Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who claimed that Mughal emperor Babar had demolished the Harihar temple to construct the mosque.
The survey, which began at 7:30 a.m. and concluded at 10:00 a.m., was completed successfully. Advocate Jain confirmed that all necessary photographs and videos had been taken and said the report would be presented in court on 29 November.
He refrained from commenting on the survey's findings but urged the public to maintain peace and trust in the judicial process, emphasising that legal proceedings take time. He also noted that a lawyer representing the Masjid Committee was present during the survey.
During the survey, protests broke out in Sambhal, with demonstrators throwing stones at police. In response, police used lathi-charges and fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. Several protesters were arrested. Heavy security was deployed for the survey, and the police acted swiftly to control the situation.
Sambhal District Magistrate Rajendra Painsia stated that the survey was conducted according to court orders. The 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. timeframe was chosen as no prayers were offered during that period, ensuring the process could proceed peacefully.
“The survey was carried out peacefully, with no disruptions,” said Painsia. He added that the Jama Masjid Committee had been cooperative throughout the process.
In the midst of the tensions, All India Muslim Jamaat Chief Shahbuddin Razvi Barelvi appealed to the minority community in Sambhal to maintain peace and refrain from acts of vandalism or stone pelting.
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