Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has announced a judicial inquiry will be conducted into violence that erupted in Sambhal on November 24, following the survey of a Mughal-era mosque in the region. Retired High Court Justice Devendra Kumar Arora will head the three-member inquiry commission.
Former IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad and former IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain are also members of the committee. As per orders issued by Governor Patel, the commission has been directed to complete the probe within two months. The commission will probe whether there was any conspiracy behind the attacks and examine whether law enforcement and district administration were prepared to maintain law and order on the day. The commission has also been directed to make recommendations to prevent such incidents in the future.
Violence erupted in Sambhal on November 24 after a survey team visited the Shahi Jama Masjid site following a local court’s order. A Magistrate court ordered a survey of the Mughal-era mosque hearing a petition claiming the Masjid was constructed demolishing Harihar temple. At least four persons died and over 20 persons including police suffered injuries in the incident.
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The Supreme Court will hear the mosque committee’s plea challenging the survey on Friday. In their plea, the committee said the survey was ordered the same day a petition was filed in the court, on November 19, and the first survey was conducted between 6.30pm and 8.30pm on the day.
The second survey was ordered while they were preparing legal remedies and the survey team reached the mosque on November 24 morning, at 6.15am to conduct the survey. The petitioners alleged worshippers who were offering prayers at that time in the mosque were asked to leave immediately.
Security has been heightened at the Masjid in view of the plea and Friday prayers. Police conducted a flag march in the area on Thursday and multi-layer security has been deployed to prevent untoward incidents.
