At least three Muslim youths lost their lives after violent clashes broke out between protesters and police during a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday.
The deceased—Bilal Ansar, Nadeem Ahmed, and Nadeem Ghazi—were reportedly shot by police attempting to disperse protesters opposing the survey.
The incident comes after a court order on Tuesday to survey the mosque, based on a petition alleging that the mosque was constructed over the remains of a temple.
The sudden court ruling sparked widespread outrage, intensifying tensions in the area.
On Sunday, a survey team returned to the mosque, with members of the Hindutva groups raising Jai Shri Ram and other Hindutva slogans to provoke local Muslims. This led to clashes, during which several civilians were fired upon by Police, leading to three deaths.
Police also reported several injuries, including that of senior officials, and numerous vehicles were set on fire.
The Moradabad Divisional Commissioner, Ananya Kumar, confirmed the deaths and injuries, stating that around 20 to 22 police officers were hurt, including the CO Sambhal and PRO to the SP Sambhal.
The police have vowed to take strict action against those responsible for the violence and warned of invoking the National Security Act (NSA) against the perpetrators.
The court-ordered survey has faced significant criticism. Samajwadi Party leader Shahid Siddiqui argued that pursuing such surveys could destabilize the country, while Supreme Court lawyer Sanjay Hegde raised concerns over the judiciary’s role in reigniting ancient disputes, citing the 1993 Places of Worship Act, which mandates that the religious character of places of worship should not be altered. Hegde warned that ignoring such laws would lead to chaos.