Four days after violence broke out in the Jama Masjid during a survey, the district administration has alleged that it has suffered from mob obstruction on many occasions and pointed out the sequence of events which led to the tragedy. Four people died and several were injured in the violence, which took place on November 24 during a court-ordered survey of the mosque after charges were made it was built by destroying a temple during Babur’s reign as a Mughal emperor.
Claims of Mob Obstruction
On November 19, five days before the violence, the court-appointed survey commission tried to carry out the first survey there and it was disturbed by a mob of 150 people, Sambhal district magistrate Rajendra Pensiya told reporters. Pensiya, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the team had to abandon its survey because of mob intrusion and daylight falling. He did not explain, however, why the incident was not made public earlier, or why the police allowed the mob to enter the mosque. Furthermore, 150 of those allegedly in on it have been doing nothing.
Allegations of Provocation
Pensiya and SP Krishna Kumar are being sighted. Opposition leaders accuse officials of allowing provocations to occur during the survey, while local residents say officials failed to stop them. On November 24, a group accompanying the surveyors allegedly chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’ to ratchet up tensions between local Muslims. Akhilesh Yadav of Samajwadi Party is calling for legal action against the district magistrate, SP, police officers and in this case everyone involved saying the police resorted to illegal weapons and opened fire on peaceful protesters.
Conflicting Narratives
Police misconduct allegations are raised by opposition leaders, who say the violence arose when country made weapons in two factions in the mob started firing on each other. And post-mortem reports have yet to be made public, which could clarify where the fatal bullets came from.
Arrests and Identifications
Twenty seven people have been arrested in connection with the violence and authorities have taken in images of some 250 alleged rioters from CCTV and drone footage. But the police acknowledge that many faces remain blurred and have appealed for help to identify suspects. SP Krishna Kumar promised informants confidentiality and said he would circulate the pictures on social media and reward anyone with information.
Damages Recovery Financial
During the violence, authorities are assessing damages. After being identified, the process of financial recovery of the accused will ensue, Pensiya added. He denied claims that the mosque management was not aware of the surveys, saying that Jafar Ali, head of the management committee, was present at both times.
Legal Challenge
Jama Masjid management committee has moved the Supreme Court against the district court order on November 19 directing survey of the mosque in Sambhal. The plea will come up before the Supreme Court on Friday.
Sambhal has been an all out war between the ramparts of the country over the lines of religious harmony, administrative accountability and the handling of the sensitive court orders. The case is still in judicial and public limelight when allegations and counter claims were mounting.
