Four people were killed in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh after violence erupted during a court-ordered survey of a 16th-century mosque.
The clashes between locals and police over the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, which is at the centre of a legal dispute claiming that it was built on a Hindu temple site, led to the death of four Muslim youths and resulted in injuries to at least 20 police officers on Sunday.
Photos and videos from the site also showed several vehicles being set ablaze.
Authorities detained 21 people and imposed internet shutdowns and restrictions on movement in the area after the killings. Schools and colleges have also been shut in the area.
Officials stated those involved in the violence would face charges under the National Security Act (NSA).
Tensions in Sambhal have been rising since a video survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid began last Tuesday. The survey follows a petition claiming the mosque was built on a temple destroyed by Mughal ruler Babur in the 1520s.
Authorities under the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government initiated the survey the same day.
Some Muslim groups in Sambhal protested the mosque survey, claiming they were not notified in advance and questioned the court’s urgency.
A second survey on Sunday turned violent when protesters gathered near the mosque, shouted slogans, and clashed with the survey team, according to police.
Meanwhile, opposition Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the “biased and hasty attitude” of the state government on the dispute was “extremely unfortunate”.
“The administration’s insensitive action without listening to all parties further vitiated the situation and resulted in the death of many people – for which the BJP government is directly responsible,” he wrote on X.
A case has been filed against Sambhal lawmaker Ziaur Rahman Barq, along with Sohail Iqbal, the son of local MLA Iqbal Mehmood, from the Samajwadi Party. Authorities have accused them of inciting violence, mobilising crowds, and instigating unrest, India Today reported.
Those who lost lives during the clashes have been identified as Nauman, Bilal, Naim, and Mohammad Kaif. While there are claims that the victims sustained bullet injuries, police said the exact cause of the deaths will be determined through autopsies.
