Authorities in a northern Indian city have taken drastic measures following clashes that erupted over a dispute regarding a 16th-century mosque believed to have been built on a Hindu temple site. The incident, which resulted in four fatalities, prompted the closure of schools and suspension of internet services in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh.
The unrest began when nearly 1,000 Muslim protesters gathered outside the Shahi Jama Masjid to prevent a court-ordered survey investigating the mosque's origins. The survey was initiated based on a petition from a Hindu lawyer claiming the mosque was constructed on the site of a Hindu temple.
Local administrator Aunjaneya Kumar Singh announced the closure of all educational institutions and imposed a ban on public gatherings in the city. Additionally, outsiders, social organizations, and public representatives are prohibited from entering Sambhal without official permission until November 30 to maintain order.
Despite efforts to contain the situation, clashes ensued between protesters and police, leading to the deployment of tear gas and minor force by law enforcement to restore order. Videos circulating on social media depicted scenes of violence, including stone-pelting and burning vehicles.
The survey continued as planned amid the escalating tensions. The incident has reignited religious disputes in India, where historical grievances often spark contemporary conflicts. Hindu activist groups, aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party, have long claimed that mosques were built over Hindu temples during the Mughal empire.
Experts suggest that Hindu nationalists have been emboldened following the inauguration of a Hindu temple on the site of a demolished mosque in Ayodhya earlier this year. The petitioner in Sambhal cites historical texts alleging that the mosque was constructed over a Hindu temple destroyed by Mughal emperor Babur in 1529.
While proponents argue that the survey aims to uncover historical truths, opponents view it as a violation of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which preserves the religious status quo of sites as they were in 1947.
