Sambhal's Jama Masjid Likely To Be Renamed As...

Surrounded by controversies for changing names of historic places, the Uttar Pradesh government is now likely to change the name of Sambhal's Jama Masjid. According to the reports, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is set to install a new blue-coloured board that reads Shahi Jama Masjid as "Juma Masjid".

The signboard is currently kept at the Satyavrat police outpost, a newly built police corner next to Sambhal's Jama Masjid to control the massive crowd that visits the mosque every Friday. The reports said a signboard will be installed soon in the presence of police and RAF force to maintain law and order.

Earlier, the latest signboard was put right outside the mosque, but it was allegedly removed by some locals, who replaced it with 'Shahi Jama Masjid' board.

"The new board has been issued in accordance with the name recorded in ASI documents, which is 'Juma Masjid'", ASI's counsel Vishnu Sharma told PTI.

He said a similar blue ASI board with the same name is already present inside the mosque premises.

For now, there is no information about the exact time of installation of the ASI's signboard.

Sambhal Mosque, a Mughal-era historic monument, came into the limelight after a petition claimed it as an ancient Hindu temple.

Reacting to the PIL, the Court ordered ASI to inquire and present the report of the mosque. This also led to tension in the area and on November 24 last year, violence erupted in Sambhal's Kot Garvi locality after some people tried to stop the survey and attack the officials.

In the clash with police, several people got injured.

An FIR was also lodged against Samajwadi Party MP Zia ur Rehman Barq and son of a local MLA for their alleged involvement in the Sambhal violence.