New Delhi: Sambhal’s administration reportedly began excavating a well near the disputed Shahi Jama Masjid in the district headquarters.
Shrish Chandra, Sambhal’s assistant superintendent of police, was quoted as saying by PTI that the administration began excavating the well on Wednesday (January 22) following complaints from locals that it was illegally covered.
“Preliminary investigation suggests the well was encroached upon and covered. We are excavating to restore it. Appropriate legal action will follow after further investigation,” Chandra said.
He also cited locals and “elderly residents” as saying the well “has existed for centuries”, PTI reported.
The Shahi Jama Masjid was at the centre of deadly violence in November that occurred as an advocate commissioner-led team surveyed the mosque on orders from a court, which had taken cognisance of claims by Hindu petitioners that the mosque was originally a prominent Hindu temple dedicated to Kalki, the prophesised avatar of Vishnu.
As the survey – the second of its kind, which followed a hurriedly arranged first survey a few days prior – was held on November 24, tensions gave way to violence in the lanes near the mosque in which at least four Muslim men were killed.
The relatives of those who were killed accuse the police of shooting them. The authorities deny the allegations. Many police personnel were also injured and some vehicles were burned or otherwise damaged.
The Yogi Adityanath-led state government on November 28 ordered a judicial probe by a three-member commission headed by retired Allahabad high court Justice Devendra Kumar Arora into the violence.
Last weekend the police arrested ten more people in connection with the violence, taking the total number of those arrested to 70, PTI reported citing police officer Chandra.
While hearing petitions challenging the Places of Worship Act, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on December 12 directed that courts in the country not register any new suits claiming religious places.
It also barred courts from passing any effective interim orders or final orders, including directions for surveys, in pending suits until further notice. Its directions also applied to Sambhal.
Wednesday’s excavation works occurred weeks after the Supreme Court ordered that the status quo be maintained at a well near the mosque’s entrance that has become a matter of contention between mosque officials and the Hindu petitioners.
Mosque officials said they have a long history of using the well while the Hindu petitioners said the well has long-been used for puja.
