2 Dead, Vehicles On Fire: Violence In UP's Sambhal Over Mosque Survey

The Jama Masjid in Sambhal is at the centre of a contentious legal battle over claims that it was built on the site of a Hindu temple.

Chaos erupted in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal this morning as a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era Jama Masjid led to violent clashes between locals and police, leading to the deaths of two individuals. The mosque is at the centre of a contentious legal battle over claims that it was built on the site of a Hindu temple.

According to the police, the violence began when a crowd gathered near the mosque as the survey team, led by an "Advocate Commissioner," began its work. The crowd swelled to nearly a thousand people, who tried to prevent the police from entering the mosque. Some individuals in the crowd threw stones at police personnel stationed at the site. The mob set more than ten vehicles on fire. The police responded with tear gas to disperse the mob. In the ensuing chaos, two individuals were killed, police said. 

The survey, which began at 7:30 am, was part of a process initiated by a petition claiming that a temple once stood where the mosque now stands. Tensions have been simmering in Sambhal since a similar survey was conducted on Tuesday. The petitioners argue that historical texts such as "Baburnama" and "Ain-e-Akbari" document the destruction of the temple by Mughal emperor Babur in 1529.