Stone pelting began in Sambhal following a survey at Shahi Jama Masjid at 7:30 am, amid heavy police deployment. District Magistrate (DM), Superintendent of Police (SP), and officials from five police stations are present at the site to ensure security.

As tension escalated in Sambhal police used tear gas and “minor force” in the face of stone pelting by locals here during a second survey of the Mughal-era mosque, claimed to be originally the site of an ancient Hindu temple.

#BigBreaking : संभल में जमकर बवाल, जामा मस्जिद में सर्वे के लिए पहुंची टीम पर पत्थरबाजी, कोर्ट के आदेश पर सर्वे, बौखलाए पत्थरबाजों ने पुलिस पर किया अटैक। पुलिस ने छोड़े आंसू गैस के गोले, उपचुनाव नतीजों के अगले दिन ही प्रदेश में बवाल

पुलिस पर भीड़ द्वारा पत्थरबाजी की गई और… pic.twitter.com/kGjihYX01E
— Zee News (@ZeeNews) November 24, 2024

A court in Sambhal had ordered a survey of the mosque in the district using “video and photography” after a petition alleged that the site was originally an ancient temple of significance to the Hindu faith.

Tension has been mounting in Sambhal in recent days after the Jama Masjid was surveyed last Tuesday, following a local court’s order in response to a petition claiming that a Harihar temple existed at the site.

The local administration stated that a second survey, conducted by an “Advocate Commissioner” as part of a court-mandated investigation into the disputed site, began at approximately 7 am, with a crowd beginning to gather at the location.

“Some miscreants came out of the crowd gathered near the site and pelted stones at the police team. The police used minor force and tear gas to bring the situation under control,” Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Vishnoi said.

(With PTI Inputs)