Sambhal:

Two men were arrested on Sunday in connection with the violence that erupted here in November last year over the court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque, killing four people.

According to the police, Mohammad Hasan and Samad were arrested in the Nakhasa police station area.

During interrogation, the accused admitted to being part of the mob that gathered near the mosque on November 24 to oppose the survey, they said.

Police said the two accused informed them that upon hearing about the incident, they reached Anjuman Chauraha where a large crowd had assembled and incited the mob.

Subsequently, the mob marched towards Hindupura Khera Nakhasa Tiraha, where they allegedly fired at police personnel, pelted stones, and set a police vehicle on fire with the intent to kill, police said in a press release.

On November 19, the local court passed an ex-parte order for a survey of the mosque by an advocate commissioner after taking note of a plea of the Hindu side claiming the mosque was built by Mughal emperor Babur in 1526 after demolishing a temple.

On November 24, during a second round of the survey, protesting locals clashed with security personnel, leading to major violence which led to the death of four people and injuries to dozens.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has claimed that there is a ‘shivling’ – a cylindrical idol that represents the Hindu god Shiva – under the official residence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow.

His remarks come against a backdrop of a raging controversy over the excavation of an ancient step well in Sambhal, the Uttar Pradesh district which witnessed deadly clashes over a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque last month.

Speaking to reporters in Lucknow, Mr Yadav said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is getting excavation done at various places to “hide its failure” and to divert attention from the issues related to the public.

“We believe there is a ‘shivling’ under the chief minister’s residence too. Excavation should also be done there,” he said.

The former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh also alleged that the “houses of innocent people are being demolished illegally by bulldozers”.

“This is not development but destruction. There is no line of development in the hands of the chief minister, there is a line of destruction,” Mr Yadav added.

BJP’s Response To Akhilesh Yadav

Responding to Akhilesh Yadav’s charge, BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi asked why he “has a problem” with digging in Sambhal.

“In 2013, he (Mr Yadav) used the entire state machinery to excavate 1,000 tonnes of gold. He is ready to excavate the gold, but has a problem with a ‘Shivling’. That’s why he is talking about digging the chief minister’s residence,” Mr Tripathi told the news agency PTI.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala also slammed the “shameless” Samajwadi Party and said it is “mocking ‘Shivling’ for scoring points with the vote bank”.

Excavation In Sambhal

The authorities in Sambhal district last week began the renovation and excavation of the ancient “Mrityu Kup” (well of death) at Kot Purvi.

According to locals, the well was abandoned several years ago and filled with debris, which will be cleared. They claim the well is not only a historic landmark but also a sacred site where devotees believe they can attain salvation by bathing.

The structure near the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid — where a court-ordered survey led to violence last month, leaving four people dead.

Internet services were suspended in the district in the wake of the violence.

The mosque was surveyed on the orders of a local court following a petition that claimed that a Harihar temple stood at the site previously.

Lucknow:

As authorities reopened a temple in Sambhal locked since 1978 following communal riots, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said the temple did not reappear overnight and represents “our enduring heritage and the truth of our history”.

Speaking at a private event on Kumbh, the chief minister highlighted the tragic incidents that took place 46 years ago in Sambhal where innocent people lost their lives to “barbaric violence”, and questioned, “Why have perpetrators of the massacre not been brought to justice even after decades?” He criticised those who seek to “suppress the truth and tarnish cultural events” like the Kumbh, asserting that voices of truth often face threats and efforts to silence them.

The chief minister spoke about the temple in Sambhal that was unlocked recently after decades, following an anti-encroachment drive by the local administration, according to an official statement.

He emphasised the historic significance of the temple, which included an ancient idol of Bajrang Bali and a Jyotirlinga. “This temple did not reappear overnight. It represents our enduring heritage and the truth of our history,” he said.

The CM announced that while 40 crore devotees are expected to attend the 45-day Prayagraj Mahakumbh (from January 13 to February 26), arrangements are being made to accommodate 100 crore people.

On January 29, during the main Muhurta of Mauni Amavasya, an estimated six crore devotees will take a holy dip, but preparations are being done to cater to 10 crore devotees, he said.

The CM highlighted the transformation of the 2019 Prayagraj Kumbh, stating that it redefined expectations.

“Anyone who witnessed the Kumbh of 2019 would have seen the out-of-the-box efforts that made it clean, safe, and well-organized. What was once associated with dirt, chaos, stampedes, and insecurity became a divine and grand event,” he said.

Adityanath also took a swipe at the Congress and opposition parties for claiming “exclusive ownership” of India’s legacy. “Some people wander around with a self-proclaimed contract of representing India and treat Discovery of India as if it were the oldest book of this country,” he remarked, without naming any party.

He said the historic Supreme Court verdict on Shri Ram Janmabhoomi delivered on November 9, 2019, resolved a decades-long dispute. Yet, he pointed out, some individuals continue to threaten the judges who delivered the decision.

The chief minister accused opposition leaders of hypocrisy in the name of the Constitution, citing their proposed no-confidence motion against the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

“The Chairman emphasised his duty to ensure the House functions and public issues are discussed. Yet, these people accused him of bias and moved a no-confidence motion to silence him,” he said.

He also criticised attempts to question institutions like the Election Commission. “These individuals even bring impeachment motions in the Upper House, showing their intention to intimidate anyone who speaks the truth or stands for India’s heritage,” CM Yogi concluded.

Chief Minister Adityanath emphasised that the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has been pivotal in driving development in the region.

He pointed out that those, who ruled for decades without delivering meaningful progress, are now criticising the present government.

“They have a problem with the spirituality and development of Kashi and Ayodhya. Their frustration stems from their failure and our success. We must understand their mentality,” he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during a meeting with the families of the victims of violence in Sambhal, in New Delhi.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (December 10, 2024) met families of the victims of violence in Sambhal at his 10 Janpath residence and offered them all possible help to ensure justice.

Wayanad MP and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also present during the meeting.

The Congress later said in a post on X, “Today, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary and MP Priyanka Gandhi met the victims of Sambhal. The incident in Sambhal is the ill-effects of BJP’s hate politics and it is fatal for a peaceful society.”

It also said, “Together, we have to defeat this violent and hateful mentality with love and brotherhood.” The Congress asserted that it stood with all the victims and would fight to get them justice.

The Uttar Pradesh government had earlier denied permission to both Mr. Gandhi and Ms. Vadra to travel to Sambhal and visit the victims’ families.

The Gandhi siblings were on their way to Sambhal on December 4 but were stopped by the Uttar Pradesh Police at the Ghazipur border.

Mr. Gandhi had termed the action “anti-constitutional”.

After being stopped at the Ghazipur border, Mr. Gandhi said he was ready to go to Sambhal alone with the police but was not allowed.

Violence erupted during a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque in Sambhal on November 24 as protesters clashed with security personnel. Four people were killed in the violence and many more were injured.

She was watching a video on Sambhal violence in Uttar Pradesh, where protests sparked by a survey into whether a centuries-old mosque was built on a Hindu temple had killed four people – when her husband asked her not to and then, as she claims, divorced her by uttering the word ‘talaq’ three times. She had praised the police action.

“Koi wajah hi toh nahi thi. Bina wajah ke talaq diya hai (There was no reason at all. He divorced me without a reason),” said Nida, who uses a single name.

The word ‘talaq’ means divorce in Arabic.

The controversial practice of ‘triple talaq’ that allows Muslim men to divorce their wives instantly by saying ‘talaq’ thrice was banned by the Supreme Court in 2017. The top court called it “unconstitutional”. In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government also approved a bill outlawing the centuries-old right of a Muslim man to instantly divorce his wife.

Nida, a native of Moradabad, has filed a police complaint against her husband, Ejazul, for divorcing her.

“I was watching a video because I had to visit Sambhal for a wedding. I also had some personal work. So I was checking if it was safe to go there. My husband asked me why I was watching the video. I said what is wrong is wrong. Everyone has the right to defend themselves,” said Nida, elaborating on what started the fight between the couple.

“Upon hearing this, he said you are not a Muslim; you are an infidel. You support police. He started misbehaving with me. He said I will not keep you anymore, no matter what you do and pronounced triple talaq. He then said he has nothing to do with me,” Nida, dressed in a black burqa, told reporters.

The couple was in the third year of their marriage. 

“A woman has filed a complaint against her husband that she was watching a YouTube video related to Sambhal, which led to a fight between the couple. The husband asked her not to watch the video and when she did not agree, he ended the marriage by saying talaq three times,” said Ranvijay Singh, Superintendent of City Police, Moradabad.

The situation had been tense in Sambhal since a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid was conducted on November 19 following orders from a court that came on a petition claiming that a Harihar temple existed at the site earlier.

Violence broke out on November 24 when the mosque was being surveyed again. Four people were killed and others injured in a clash between protesters and police. A total of 29 police personnel were injured in the incident, said the police.

(With inputs from Anwar Kamal)

Lucknow:

The discovery of Pakistan-made cartridges in the aftermath of the November 24 violence in Sambhal has escalated political tensions in Uttar Pradesh.

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP from Sambhal, Ziaur Rahman Barq, criticised the local police, demanding dismissal of officers involved in the investigation, while Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak assured a thorough and impartial probe.

The violence erupted in the Sambhal Kotwali area during a survey, leading to five deaths. The police recovered six bullets from the scene, two of which are believed to have been manufactured in a Pakistani factory. This revelation has prompted an investigation into possible terrorist links.

Reacting to the findings, Ziaur Rahman Barq accused the police of failing to prevent things in Sambhal.

“After a week, the cartridges were recovered. The police administration has failed to prove that the people had weapons, and now they are claiming the cartridges were found there,” he said.

“It’s unfortunate that such police officers are handling this case. Such officers will only harm the country, and they should be dismissed immediately,” Barq told IANS.

However, earlier in the day, UP’s Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak urged all political parties to support the administration in maintaining peace.

“The incident in Sambhal is under impartial investigation, with Section 144 imposed to ensure law and order. A judicial commission has already visited the site, and strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty,” Pathak said.

Highlighting the discovery of foreign-made ammunition, Pathak added, “The involvement of Pakistani cartridges raises serious concerns. Our government is committed to a thorough investigation, and stringent action will be taken against the guilty.”

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), along with forensic and Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) teams, is conducting searches in violence-affected areas.

On Tuesday, Sambhal SP Krishna Kumar Bishnoi visited the site with a forensic team, which used a metal detector to uncover additional cartridges.

The police recovered a ‘POF 9MM 68-26’ cartridge, believed to be made in Pakistan, and a ‘Winchester Made-in-USA 12-bore’ cartridge. The findings have added gravity to the case, leading the police to probe possible terrorist connections.

“The discovery of Pakistan-made ammunition suggests the seriousness of this case. The police are intensively investigating and working to identify those involved in the violence,” the Sambhal SP said.

Meanwhile, to restore normalcy, the municipal team has resumed cleaning operations in the area. Pathak reiterated the government’s resolve to ensure justice for the victims while holding the perpetrators accountable.

As the investigation unfolds, the involvement of foreign-made ammunition has raised questions about the extent of external influences in the violence, prompting heightened scrutiny by state and central agencies.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Stopped from visiting Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal to meet the families of those killed in the November 24 violence, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said it was his right and duty as Leader of the Opposition to visit the town and speak to the affected families.

The Congress leader shared a video of an exchange with a police officer at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in Ghazipur. The video shows a huge battery of cops on duty to stop the Congress delegation from entering Uttar Pradesh.

“It’s my right to go there. On what basis have they denied the LoP (Leader of the Opposition) permission to go?” he is heard asking a police officer on duty. “It’s an issue of law and order,” the cop responds. “Am I going to disturb law and order?” Mr Gandhi asks. The cop says, “It is a sensitive (situation)”. The Congress leader responds, “I am going to go with the police quietly and come back. I am going alone.”

पुलिस ने हमें संभल जाने से रोक दिया। विपक्ष के नेता होने के नाते यह मेरा अधिकार और कर्तव्य है कि मैं वहां जाऊं। फिर भी मुझे रोका गया।

मैं अकेला जाने को भी तैयार हूं, लेकिन वे इसके लिए भी नहीं माने। यह संविधान के ख़िलाफ़ है।

भाजपा क्यों डरी हुई है – अपनी नाकामियों को छुपाने के… pic.twitter.com/aZ5pDjXtZA

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 4, 2024

Mr Gandhi was accompanied by his sister and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several Congress MPs when Uttar Pradesh police stopped them at Ghazipur. The Congress leaders urged the cops to allow a small delegation of 4-5. The cops refused. They then asked if Mr Gandhi could go alone. This was turned down too and the Congress leaders were asked to turn back. Opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, slammed the Yogi Adityanath government’s move to stop Mr Gandhi from visiting Sambhal. Opposition MPs staged a walkout in Lok Sabha to register their protest.

The BJP hit back, accusing the Congress leaders of planning the visit for a “photo op”. BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi asked why Mr Gandhi did not visit Bengal’s Sandeshkhali, which made headlines after an Enforcement Directorate team was attacked and a group of women accused the local strongman, then a Trinamool leader, of harassment and extortion. Senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh termed this a “political drama” by Mr Gandhi.

In the video posted on X, Mr Gandhi said, “Sambhal witnessed violence. People died. We wanted to go and see what happened, but police did not let us.”

Prohibitory orders have been clamped on the western Uttar Pradesh town after four people were killed and several others injured in violent clashes with police during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. The Mughal-era mosque is at the centre of a legal battle after some petitions claimed it was built on the site of a Hindu temple. Local Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman, Samajwadi Party MLA Mahmood’s son Sohail Iqbal and over 700 unidentified people have been charged in the FIR filed in connection with the violence.

Police and administration have said they would not allow outsiders to visit the area, citing the law and order situation. The prohibitory orders have been extended to December 31. Earlier, a delegation of Samajwadi Party MPs was stopped from entering the district.

New Delhi:

Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra set out for the Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh to take stock of the situation in the area in the aftermath of violence over the survey of a mosque. Congress workers have gathered outside their 10 Janpath residence to accompany the Gandhi siblings to Sambhal. Massive security arrangements have been made on the route and Uttar Pradesh police will try to stop the Gandhis from reaching Sambhal, citing sensitive law and order situation in the area.

Prohibitory orders are in place in the western Uttar Pradesh town after four people were killed and several others injured in violent clashes with police during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. The Mughal-era mosque is at the centre of a legal battle after some petitions claimed it was built on the site of a Hindu temple. Local Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman, Samajwadi Party MLA Mahmood’s son Sohail Iqbal and over 700 unidentified people have been charged in the FIR filed in connection with the violence.

Police and administration have said they would not allow outsiders to visit the area, citing the law and order situation. The prohibitory orders have been extended to December 31. Earlier, a delegation of Samajwadi Party MPs was stopped from entering the district.

District Magistrate Rajendra Pensia has written to the police commissioners of Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad and the police superintendents of Amroha and Bulandshahr and urged them to stop Mr Gandhi. Besides the Gandhi siblings, five Congress MPs from Uttar Pradesh are part of the delegation.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai has told news agency PTI that they will insist that at least a four-member delegation be allowed to proceed to Sambhal.

Lucknow:

After the Lucknow Police served notice to Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai, asking him to postpone his Sambhal visit, the party leader said that he would go to Sambhal “peacefully.”

“They have issued me a notice and have asked me that my visit will cause chaos. Certainly, we also don’t want chaos but peace to prevail. The atrocity and injustice that was done there by the police and the govt, I want my leadership to know this. They (police) gave me notice but I will go there peacefully,” Mr Rai told ANI.

Earlier in the morning, Uttar Pradesh Police issued a notice to Mr Rai asking them not to visit violence-hit Sambhal.

In the notice given to Ajay Rai, he has been informed that “keeping in mind the peace and communal sensitivity in Sambhal district, he should cooperate in the public interest and postpone his proposed program so that the order passed by the District Magistrate of Sambhal district, Section 163 BNSS is not violated.”

“Due to this no outsider/social organization/public representative will enter the boundary of Sambhal district without the permission of the competent officer. Going to Sambhal district with the delegation of Congress Party on 02.12.2024 is not appropriate from the point of view of peace and order,” the notice further read.

A Congress delegation led by the party’s Uttar Pradesh chief is scheduled to visit Sambhal where a stone-pelting incident took place on November 24.

Amid massive security, a three-member judicial committee conducted an inspection near the Shahi Masjid area in Sambhal on Sunday.

The committee members visited the areas and spoke to the residents as well as officials regarding the incident. The panel was accompanied by security personnel as they visited the violence-hit area.

Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said that the situation in Sambhal is currently peaceful and the authorities are constantly monitoring the same.

Tensions in Sambhal have been high since November 19, when a local court ordered a survey of the mosque. Clashes between protestors and police over the court-ordered survey of the Jama Masjid resulted in four deaths.

New Delhi:

Parliament Winter Session Live Updates: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will brief the Lok Sabha on the key developments in India-China relations, weeks after the two sides finalised a disengagement and patrolling pact at friction points along the Line of Actual Control.

The Lok Sabha will also see the introduction of bills relating to coastal shipping, banking laws and amendments to the Railways Act, 1989. In the Rajya Sabha, bills pertaining to regulation and development of oilfields and design, manufacture, use and sell aircrafts will be introduced.

Ahead of today’s sitting, the Opposition INDI alliance will hold a meeting at 10 am to discuss various issues. Since the Winter Session began on November 25, proceedings of both Houses have been washed out amid uproar by the Opposition over issues, including Manipur unrest and Sambhal violence.

Here are the Live Updates from Day 6 of the Winter Session:

Congress MP Gives Notice Over Sambhal Violence, Ajmer Plea
Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi gave a Suspension of Business notice in the Rajya Sabha on the issues of Sambhal violence and Ajmer Sharif Dargah plea.

INDIA Bloc To Meet At 10 AM
The Opposition INDIA bloc will conduct a meeting ahead of the sitting today. The Opposition has been protesting various issues, including Manipur unrest and Sambhal violence, in both Houses, causing proceedings to be washed out.

Bills In Rajya Sabha Today

Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024: Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri to move bill that proposes to amend Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948, which governs the exploration and extraction of natural gas and petroleum.

Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024: The Bill provides for regulation and control of the design, manufacture, maintenance, possession, use, operation, sale, export and import of aircraft.

Bills in Lok Sabha Today

Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024: The Bill proposes to consolidate and amend the law relating to regulation of coastal shipping, promote coasting trade and encourage domestic participation therein, to ensure that India is equipped with a coastal fleet, owned and operated by the citizens of India for its national security and commercial needs.

Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024: The Bill proposes to amend the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the State Bank of India Act, 1955, the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 and the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980.

Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024: To be moved by Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

S Jaishankar To Brief Lok Sabha On India-China Ties
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will brief the Lok Sabha on the key developments in India-China relations, weeks after the two sides finalised a disengagement and patrolling pact at friction points along the Line of Actual Control.