Sambhal Violence: Here's How A 16th-Century Mosque Turned Spotlight On This Sleepy UP Town | Explained

Over three decades after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, another mosque in Uttar Pradesh has become the focal point of a contentious dispute.

A court-ordered survey of the 16th-century Jama Masjid, a Mughal-era mosque in Sambhal, Moradabad, has resulted in multiple fatalities, numerous arrests, and a riot that paralysed the city.

The Jama Masjid, constructed during the reign of the first Mughal emperor, Babur, between 1526 and 1530, is one of three significant mosques built during his brief but influential rule, reported India Today. The others include the mosque at Panipat and the now-demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.

Historical records suggest the mosque's construction was overseen by Hindu Beg Qucin, a trusted lieutenant of Babur, in December 1526. Its architectural design reflects the evolving Mughal style of the time, featuring a spacious square hall with a central dome. Persian inscriptions within the mosque confirm its Mughal origins, although some historians claim remnants of pre-existing Hindu temples were incorporated into its structure.

Sambhal holds considerable religious importance for Hindus, being considered the birthplace of Kalki, the tenth and final avatar of Vishnu.

According to Hindu mythology, Kalki is destined to emerge in Sambhal to end the Kalyug (age of darkness). Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the grand Kalki Dham, calling for "Ram Rashtra" and proclaiming, "Kalki's avatar will determine the course of thousands of years."

Sambhal's spiritual history-marked by overlapping faiths-has become the crux of the current ideological and legal struggle.

Legal Dispute

The controversy began when a petition was filed in Sambhal by advocate Vishnu Shanker Jain and others. Jain, also involved in the Gyanvapi Mosque and Krishna Janmabhoomi disputes, alleged that the Jama Masjid was constructed on the ruins of a temple dedicated to Lord Kalki. The petition claims that the mosque replaced a temple destroyed during Babur's invasion in 1526-27.

Petitioners have referred to historical texts, including the *Baburnamah* and *Ain-e-Akbari*, to support their claim of the temple's destruction. They also argue that the temple, allegedly constructed by Vishwakarma-the mythological architect of the gods-was converted into a mosque to assert Islamic dominance. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was criticised for not taking control of the site, which the petitioners assert is protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

The petitioners have demanded unrestricted access for Hindus to worship at the mosque, claiming their religious rights have been unlawfully denied.

Survey and Its Aftermath

Following the petition, the court ordered a survey of the mosque on 19 November 2024. Advocate Commissioner Ramesh Raghav, along with the district administration and police, carried out the survey on the same day. The swift action prompted accusations of judicial overreach and procedural lapses.

The Muslim community, including the Jama Masjid management committee, strongly opposed the survey, citing the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which prohibits altering the status of religious sites as they existed on 15 August 1947. Ziaur Rehman Barq, the Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal, condemned the survey as an attempt to disrupt communal harmony.

On 24 November, tensions escalated as a second survey was scheduled. Hundreds of locals, fearing a repeat of the Babri Masjid demolition, gathered near the mosque to resist. The protests turned violent, with demonstrators pelting stones and setting vehicles ablaze.

Security forces responded with tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowd. Four people, including three young men, lost their lives, while over 30 police officers were injured. Several vehicles were torched, and property around the mosque sustained damage. Authorities imposed prohibitory orders, suspended internet services, and closed schools for a day to prevent further violence. The Moradabad Police stated that those responsible for the unrest would face severe legal consequences, including charges under the National Security Act (NSA).

Advocate Vishnu Shanker Jain called for the ASI to take control of the site to investigate its origins thoroughly. Ziaur Rehman Barq urged the community to remain calm and pledged to challenge the survey legally. Former Chief Minister Mayawati criticised the government's failure to prevent communal unrest.

Critics argue that permitting such cases undermines the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which seeks to preserve the religious status quo as of Independence.