Sambhal violence: Prohibitory orders issued, outsiders barred from entry till Nov 30

Sambhal: The district administration has imposed prohibitory orders and barred the entry of outsiders till November 30 after three men were killed and scores of others, including security and administration personnel, injured in a violence by protesters opposing a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque. The order has been issued under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), said District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya late on Sunday.

“No outsiders, other social organisations or public representatives will enter the district border without the permission of the competent officer,” said the order, which came into force with immediate effect.

Violation of the order shall be punishable under Section 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the BNS. Violence broke out in the district on Sunday as protesters opposing the survey of the Jama Masjid clashed with security personnel. The protesters torched vehicles and pelted the police with stones while the safety personnel used tear gas and batons to disperse the mob.

Divisional Commissioner (Moradabad) Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said on Sunday, “Shots were fired by miscreants… the PRO of the superintendent of police suffered a gunshot to the leg, the circle officer changed into hit by pellets and 15 to twenty security personnel were injured in the violence.” A constable also suffered a significant head injury while the deputy collector fractured his leg.

“Three people, identified as Naeem, Bilal and Nauman, have been killed,” Singh said. Twenty-one people, including two women, have been detained and a probe has been launched, the official had said, adding that those accused in the violence can be booked under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).

District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya said, “The casualty count stands at three. The reason for the deaths of two is apparent — bullet wounds from countrymade pistols. The reason for the death of the 0.33 person is no longer clear nevertheless it can actually be after post-mortem.”

Internet products and services were soon suspended in Sambhal tehsil for 24 hours and the district administration declared a vacation in all schools for Monday. Tension had been brewing in Sambhal since November 19 when the Jama Masjid changed into first surveyed on the court’s orders following a petition claiming that a Harihar temple had stood at the location. Trouble started early on Sunday when a giant group of people gathered near the mosque and started shouting slogans as the survey team began its work.

District officials said the survey may perchance no longer be completed on Tuesday and altered into planned for Sunday to remain away from interference with afternoon prayers. Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, who's a petitioner in the case, had earlier said the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) ordered the constitution of an “advocate commission” to survey the mosque. The court has said a report has to be filed after conducting a videography and photography survey through the commission, he had said.

On Sunday, Jain urged the Archaeological Survey of India to take regulate of the “temple”. Gopal Sharma, a neighborhood lawyer for the Hindu side, had earlier claimed the temple that once stood at the location changed into demolished by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1529.