Sambhal Violence: Mandir-Masjid Dispute Sparks Deadly Clashes

The recent uproar in Sambhal has caused alarming violence, stemming from a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid which claims that it was built on a demolished Hindu temple. This resulted in five deaths and widespread unrest among people. Many historical and legal claims are fueling the tensions and causing them to escalate towards a violent clash. The Hindu side cited historical claims, and the Muslim side referenced the 1991 Places of Worship Act, which highlights the deepening of communal ideologies. 

Sambhal, a district in Uttar Pradesh, is currently at the center of a violent clash erupting from a centuries-old Mandir-Masjid dispute. On November 19, a court-ordered survey of the 16th-century Shahi Jama Masjid caused severe tensions, building up in deadly violence that left five people dead and many injured. As the tension continues to grow, the region has been followed up by a rigid lockdown, with prohibitory orders in immediate effect. This incident reflects the intricate scenarios between historical claims and religious sentiments in Sambhal which had already been simmering with communal sensitivities.

The origin of the dispute

The controversy began when a petition was filed by a Supreme Court lawyer, Vishnu Shankar Jain, who believed that the Jama Masjid stands in the place of an ancient Harihar Mandir. According to Jain, the temple was demolished in the year 1529 under the orders of the Mughal emperor Babur, and he then ordered the construction of the mosque. The lawyers have also given references from historical texts such as Baburnama and Aine-e-Akbari to support their claims.

Additionally, an 1879 report by a British archaeologist ACL Carlleyle, titled as the Tours in the Central Doab and Gorakhpur 1874-1876, described the mosque’s pillars as similar to those of the old Hindu temples, disguised with plaster. Carlleyle’s discovery noted that the removal of plaster revealed architectural features to those of a typical Hindu temple. This report, alongside the inscriptions, gives out the idea that the mosque’s completion was in the year 1526 by Mir Hindu Beg, who was one of the courtiers of Babur, who used to bolster the Hindu side’s arguments. 

The petition demanded and asked the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to take the authority over the disputed site to investigate the case and its claim to further procedure. In response, a local court then directed a survey of the mosque, appointing an Advocate Commission to oversee the entire process.

The escalation in the violence

The very first round of the survey was conducted peacefully on November 19 and saw representatives from both the Hindu and Muslim sides cooperating. Nevertheless, when the Commission arrived for the second survey, on November 23, tensions flared up drastically. Over a hundred protesters gathered outside the mosque, opposing the survey and demanding its cancellation. Despite the efforts by the Chief Imam of the Shahi Jama Masjid to disperse the crowd, a large number of protesters refused to leave the site and remained stationed there.  

The situation further escalated into a violent conflict between the crowd and police, which lasted for over three hours. According to the police officials, the protestors used country-made pistols, and gunshots were fired from the nearby houses. The conflict caused the deaths of five protestors, allegedly due to gunfire. 

The violence also left many of the police officers injured, with one sustaining pellet wounds and another with a fractured leg. The stampede has since ramped up the area into turmoil, with the security forces enforcing a complete lockdown and the government deploying additional personnel to maintain orders.

Religious and Legal Claims

From the Hindu side, the dispute is about reclaiming the site of historical and religious significance. Advocates like Gopal Sharma argue that historical texts such as the Baburnama and ASI records suggest that a temple once stood where the mosque now exists. They emphasise that the mosque’s architectural details point to its origin way back as a Hindu temple, allegedly repurposed during the Mughal period. 

In contrast, the Muslim side strongly holds their claims, citing the legal laws such as the Places of Worship Act of 1991. The law maintains that all religious sites must remain as they were on August 15, 1947, when India gained independence, barring exceptions like the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute. Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq, who is facing a case linked to the violence, stressed on the part that the Shahi Jama Masjid is a historical structure and warned against attempts to disturb communal harmony. 

The Sambhal violence projects the delicacy of communal relations in Uttar Pradesh, a state that has witnessed similar disputes in the past. The timing of the violence is very significant, coming in the heightened tensions over other high-profile religious conflicts, such as the Gyanvapi Mosque-Kashi Vishwanath temple case. 

The appellants, Vishnu Shankar Jain and his father Hari Shankar Jain, both have been involved in multiple cases on the subject of the places of worship, which raises questions about the broader implications of such petitions. Critics argue that these disputes risk fuelling the communal discord and diverting attention from the stressed social and developmental issues. 

Government and Administrative Response

In the aftermath of the conflict, the district administration has intensified security, deploying additional forces, and has also enforced prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Officials have also started their investigation, mainly those events that led to the increase in the chaos and clash, including the source of the firearms that were used during the protest. 

The Advocate Commission’s report, expected by November 29, is likely to have an effect on the legal trajectory of the case. The findings of the investigation would either substantiate or refute the claims made by the Hindu side, which will mold the future of the violent dispute.

The Sambhal violence, is not just a legal battle, but is a reflection of our society and its never-ending issues that run so much deeper. The need to resolve these conflicts requires a balanced approach that will respect the historical narratives while also safeguarding the diverse landscape of the nation. 

As the region awaits for the court’s decision, the need for reconciliation remains paramount. Both sides must strive to avoid further violence, recognising that the cost of unrest often falls on ordinary citizens. Sambhal’s rich history and variety of cultural heritage should also serve as a reminder of India’s legacy of coexistence of different communities, which must be preserved at all costs.

Sana Faiz is a student pursuing Bachelor’s in English from Jamia Millia Islamia.

Edited by- Gunjit Verma 

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Jamia Review or its members.