Sambhal violence: Crowd protesting mosque survey was not violent, say civil rights groups
'Rather, they [testimonies and videos] depict excessive force by the police, including unlawful entries into homes, destruction of property and beatings,' said the report.
The report, released by non-governmental organisation Association for Protection of Civil Rights and solidarity campaign Karwan-e-Mohabbat, pertained to the violence that broke out in Sambhal on November 24 after a group of Muslims objected to a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Chandausi town.
A trial court had ordered the survey in a lawsuit claiming that the mosque had been built in 1526 by Mughal ruler Babar on the site of the 'centuries-old Shri Hari Har Temple dedicated to Lord Kalki'.
The first survey took place on November 19 while a second one was conducted on November 24.
Five persons were killed in the violence during the second survey.
The report released on Tuesday looked into the process of the survey and what happened in its aftermath. It said that a petition was filed on November 19 in the trial court seeking an immediate survey of the mosque, claiming that it was actually a temple.
The Uttar Pradesh government did not raise objections in the trial court and a judgement was passed without hearing the mosque's representatives, the report said, adding that this allowed the survey to take place within hours.
'Suspicion and unease spread among Muslim residents, intensified by the lack of standard precautionary protocols, such as notifying the Peace Committee or following basic communication norms,' the report claimed.
It said that the 'second survey on November 24, conducted under visibly partisan circumstances (including the presence of a slogan-chanting mob), was especially incendiary'.
The ablution tank in the mosque was drained, the report claimed, adding that this was seen by several protesters as a symbolic act of desecration.
'This second survey, executed without a fresh court order, was seen as a provocation and triggered large-scale protests,' it added. 'Police responded to the crowd of protesting Muslims with lathi charges, tear gas, and gunfire.'
Five Muslim men were killed and dozens injured, the report said. More than 85 persons were also arrested.
The report claimed that in the weeks after the violence, the police conducted house-to-house raids in Muslim neighbourhoods, filed 'dubious' first information reports and targeted political figures and activists.
'These actions occurred amidst broader state-led crackdowns on alleged 'encroachments', electricity theft and illegal construction – almost exclusively in Muslim-majority areas,' the report added.
The district administration also began an 'anti-encroachment drive on December 14, specifically targeting areas like Sarai Tarin Main Market, Hindupura Kheda, Deepa Sarai, Khaggu Sarai, including areas near the residences of [Samajwadi Party] MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq, MLA Iqbal Mehmood, and SP leaders Aqeelur Rehman Khan and Firoz Khan' affected by the unrest, the report said.
During the drive, portions of about 150 houses, shops and 10 mosques – such as staircases and balconies built over roads and drains – were demolished on the pretext of encroachment on government land, it added.
In June, the Uttar Pradesh Police said that it had filed a chargesheet against Barq and 22 others in the case related to the violence. Barq was accused of inciting the crowd by giving allegedly provocative speeches.
The police had said that 'some anti-social elements, criminals and certain political people to claim political relevance incited violence at the Shahi Jama Masjid' on November 24.
It claimed that they had found that allegedly inflammatory speeches and incitement to violence led to the clashes, which resulted in arson, the throwing of stones and damage to public and private property.
'We have sent 92 people into judicial custody and are collecting evidence,' the police had said. 'The investigation is still ongoing, and soon, others involved will be arrested.'
Barq has denied the allegations, stating he was in Bengaluru at the time of the violence.
District magistrate calls report a 'farce'
Sambhal District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya described the report by the civil rights groups a 'farce', The Indian Express reported.
Pensiya told the newspaper that a report can say anything.
'People became violent and started pelting stones at the police and the administration,' he said. 'The entire country heard the announcement when we were requesting them to go back.'
Pensiya said that the ablution tank was emptied to check its depth.
The district magistrate also said that the anti-encroachment drive was conducted based on revenue records. 'If it belongs to the government and has been illegally encroached by people, we need to act on it,' he told The Indian Express.
There was no correlation between the violence and the encroachment drive, he claimed. 'The drive against the electricity theft had also begun by September 1,' the newspaper quoted him as saying.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Superstition ruining lives
Patna: West Champaran's Lakshmi Devi (name changed), now in her 80s, still fears returning to her native village in Bagaha block, even after 21 years. The memories of that cold winter morning in Dec 2004 remain vivid. She was cooking when hundreds of villagers, men and women alike, stormed her home. They shaved her head, blackened her face and paraded her through the village with a garland of shoes before throwing her out. Her crime, in their eyes, was being a "witch". Her young son had died, her daughter-in-law had left for her maternal home with two children and when a village child fell ill, suspicion fell on her. After the violent humiliation, she took shelter with her brother in a nearby village before leaving Bihar for good, settling in Gorakhpur with her husband. Those who chose to remain in their villages faced a different prison. "Many say they get out at 2 or 3 in the morning to fetch water so that no one can see them. If anyone falls sick in the neighbourhood, they pray for their wellness so that she is not blamed. Their children are discriminated against in schools, because no one plays with them. At times, they face economic punishment like fines or organising a feast for the entire village," said social activist Santosh Sharma. Such medieval cruelty still shadows rural Bihar, even as the state boasts progress. Political speeches have long invoked women's empowerment with schemes from both state and central govts, yet this is one area where the promises ring hollow. Activists insist Bihar's pioneering Prevention of Witch Practices Act is not enough. They call for a stronger law and a carrot-and-stick approach towards panchayats, which often act as the final authority in village disputes. Superstition remains the dominant cause, fuelled by poor education and limited healthcare in remote, marginalised communities, particularly among Dalit, OBC and EBC groups. In the absence of reliable medical care, villagers turn to ojhas (traditional healers), who often blame illness on a defenceless woman, convincing others they are "killing the evil". Psychologist Nidhi Singh of Magadh Mahila College said, "Humans have a tendency to draw conclusions and find reasons as to why anything is happening. This cognitive bias often leads to biases against people who are vulnerable, lonely or have a physical handicap." Personal grudges also play a part. Sharma recounted the case of a woman who was branded a witch by her own brother and sister-in-law after she claimed her share of her father's property. "It often starts from the family and spreads to the neighbourhood and ultimately the village," she said, pointing to a patriarchal mindset that punishes vocal and independent women. Her trust's survey found that women in leadership roles or those who assert themselves are often targeted, alongside the socially vulnerable. Mental illness, Singh said, is frequently misinterpreted as witchcraft. Most victims are middle-aged and from dalit, Muslim, OBC and EBC communities. Incidents often rise during the monsoon when seasonal diseases strike. The impact is devastating. Survivors frequently develop post-traumatic stress disorder, sometimes surfacing years later. "The state should ensure the victims feel safe and their biological processes like eating and sleeping happen on time. Then comes grief resolution before they can be brought to the mainstream. The state machinery's duty doesn't end with compensation but it should keep track of their well-being from time to time," said Singh, warning that survivors often display extreme behaviours in response to stress. She added that many women suffer inter-generational trauma, passing on stress and mistrust to their children. Shame, humiliation and the relentless memory of their ordeal, now amplified by social media, can lead to self harm, suicidal thoughts and self-loathing. "It is a state failure that they can't be provided with long-term therapies," she said. According to additional director general (weaker section) Amit Jain, victims are entitled to interim financial assistance of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 under the 'Astitwa Yojana', provided by the district-level 'Manav Panan Samiti'. Experts suggest tackling both the root causes and immediate triggers. Weekly police patrols in vulnerable villages could act as a deterrent. Singh advocates education as the most powerful tool: "Panchayat leaders can spread awareness about mental illnesses and against superstitious beliefs like witchcraft through nukkad natak, distributing pamphlets and other means. Village priests and healers can teach compassion. " D M Diwakar, former director of A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies, believes the focus should be on shaping young minds with scientific temperament while basic healthcare access could prevent many accusations from arising at all. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Congress releases list of 71 district presidents in M.P.; OBC leaders given maximum representation
The Congress on Saturday (August 16, 2025) released a list 71 district presidents in Madhya Pradesh, with a sizable 20-odd being those from the OBC category, followed by Dalits and tribals. Senior party leader Digvijaya Singh's MLA son and former State Minister Jaivardhan Singh has been made Guna district president, a Congress leader said. Other Backward Classes account for around 49% of M.P.'s population. The ruling BJP, incidentally, has had OBC chief ministers in the state since 2003, including Uma Bharti, Babulal Gaur, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and incumbent Mohan Yadav. The Congress' list has four women. These are Vijaylaxmi Tanwar, who has been made Agar Malwa district president, Pratibha Raghuvanshi in Khandwa city, Sunita Patel in Narsinghpur and Saraswati Singh Markam in Singrauli. A Congress leader said Omkar Singh Markam has been appointed Dindori district president, Priyavrat Singh has been given the post in Rajgarh and Harshvijay Gehlot has been made as Ratlam rural chief. They are all former State Ministers. In Bhopal, Praveen Saxena and Anokhi Man Singh Patel were retained as city and rural presidents, respectively. Eleven former legislators have been made district presidents. From the minority community, Arif Iqbal Siddiqui replaced Maqsood Ahmed in Satna as city chief. In all the party has retained 18 district presidents, including Nanesh Choudhary (Barwani), Ravi Naik (Khargone), Prakash Ranka (Jhabua), Nareshwar Pratap Singh (Shajapur), Mukesh Bhati (Ujjain city), Mohit Raghuvanshi (Vidisha), and Rajeev Gujarati (Sehore). In Burhanpur, Congress leader Hemant Patil resigned from all party posts after being denied the rural district president's position. He was the district Congress spokesperson as well. "I will remain a worker," he told PTI. His is the first resignation following the announcement of the list. There are leaders from the SC/ST categories as well as two Muslims, two Jains, one Sikh in the list, another Congress leader added. "The list has come in line with the vision of Rahul Gandhi who wants participation of all communities, especially OBCs, SCs and STs. Gandhi has been advocating caste-based census to end economic and social disparity," he said. The list released by AICC general secretary K. C. Venugopal has come two months after Mr. Gandhi kicked off his party's 'Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan' (organisation rejuvenation campaign) in Madhya Pradesh. On June 3, Mr. Gandhi held back-to-back meetings here with party functionaries as part of preparations for the 2028 M.P. assembly polls. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP swept all 29 seats in MP, including Chhindwara, the home turf of senior leader and former chief minister Kamal Nath. The Congress has been out of power in MP since 2003, except for a brief 15-month period between December 2018 and March 2020 under Mr. Nath. The Nath government collapsed after several MLAs, most of them loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia, quit and joined the BJP. The BJP retained power with a huge majority in the 2023 assembly polls.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Triservice officers offer insight into Operation Sindoor on KBC
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, and Commander Prerna Deosthalee on Friday offered viewers a rare inside look at Operation Sindoor, India's counterterror mission launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, during a special episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati. Triservice officers offer insight into Operation Sindoor on KBC Wing Commander Singh detailed the precision strikes that crippled terrorist infrastructure. 'We attacked in the interiors of the enemy to break their backs. The hands of those who watered the cactus of terrorism were broken. Twenty-one terror camps were recognised. Nine camps were finalised, and the game was done in 25 minutes,' she said. Colonel Qureshi explained the targets. 'Bahawalpur was the headquarters of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, from where terrorists who attacked Pathankot and Pahalgam were trained; Muridke had the headquarters of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, where Ajmal Kasab and David Headley were trained. Therefore, we had to destroy those places.' Singh added that terrorist camps operated under the cover of civilians. 'We are a peace-loving nation and want to live in synergy with our neighbours. Our next-gen tech weapons were so advanced now that we made the operation possible without any civilian fatalities.' Qureshi emphasised that the mission reflected a whole-of-nation approach involving the government and armed forces. Commander Deosthalee outlined the Navy's role. 'The Navy was battle-ready. We managed the trade routes to stabilise the economy and also ensured deterrence, as a dual job. We also protected the maritime borders as there were anti-national elements that entered in the past. Being part in this mission is a matter of pride and honour.' She described naval warfare as '360 degrees of uncertainty with no room for error in the middle of the endless sea without borders,' adding, 'When we strike, we strike in a manner that the enemy would remember forever.' The officers also credited local citizens for their role in rescue efforts after the Pahalgam attack, recalling the bravery shown despite the loss of Navy officer Vinay Narwal. On the preparedness of the armed forces, Singh said they were in 'offence mode.' Qureshi revealed that Pakistan had sent 300–400 drones, both armed and unarmed. 'They sent unarmed drones to scan India's weapon and defence capability around the Line of Control and the international border. But the Army Air Defence successfully disabled their attempts,' she said. Highlighting women's participation, Qureshi noted that over 100 women are involved in Operation Sindoor, trained on par with their male counterparts. 'This enabled them to handle the operations seamlessly.' Singh added, 'A weapon or a fighter aircraft doesn't distinguish between males and females.'
