Tight security deployment in UP’s Sambhal

Thane: Security remains tight in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district for the 6th consecutive day following violent clashes over the Shahi Jama Masjid survey.
The unrest stems from a local court’s directive to survey the mosque, sparking protests that turned deadly on November 24. Four people lost their lives, and several others, including officials and locals, were injured in the violence. The Samajwadi Party (SP) is expected to send a delegation to Sambhal today, according to party sources. Meanwhile, the state government has constituted a 3-member Judicial Inquiry Commission, led by retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice Devendra Kumar Arora, to investigate the stone-pelting incident.
The Supreme Court has intervened, instructing Uttar Pradesh authorities to maintain peace and harmony in the region. It also directed the trial court to halt proceedings related to the Jama Masjid case until the High Court hears a petition filed by the Masjid Committee.
The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, emphasized, “We don’t want anything to happen… We have to be absolutely, totally neutral and ensure nothing wrong is done.”
The apex court also ordered that the survey report, prepared by the court-appointed commissioner, be kept in a sealed cover and remain unopened for now. The bench advised the Masjid Committee, represented by senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, to challenge the local court’s order in the High Court rather than approaching the Supreme Court directly.
Tensions have been high since November 19, when a Sambhal civil court instructed a survey of the mosque following a petition claiming the site was historically a Harihar temple. Citing an “extraordinary situation,” the Masjid Committee bypassed the High Court, filing a plea directly in the Supreme Court under Section 136 of the Constitution, which allows the apex court to adjudicate matters directly.
The clashes erupted as protesters opposing the survey confronted police, leading to the tragic loss of life and escalating communal tensions.
The situation remains volatile, with authorities urging calm while investigations and legal proceedings continue.