North News
New Delhi, November 25
Schools in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district are closed today, mobile internet services have been suspended, and large gatherings are banned following violent clashes over a court-ordered Shahi Jama Masjid, a Mughal-era mosque survey. The violence, which erupted on Sunday, left three people dead and several others, including police officers, injured, the news outlet India Today reported. The mosque has been at the center of a contentious dispute, with claims that it was constructed on the site of a demolished Hindu temple. The court-ordered survey aims to assess the validity of these claims.
A case has been filed against Sambhal MP and Samajwadi Party leader Ziaur Rahman Barq, as well as Sohail Iqbal, the son of local MLA Iqbal Mehmood, both accused of inciting the unrest and mobilizing protesters. Authorities allege that Barq and Iqbal played key roles in orchestrating the violence, the news outlet said.
Violence broke out when protesters, opposing the survey, clashed with police stationed at the mosque. The mob threw stones at officers and set vehicles on fire, prompting police to respond with tear gas and batons. According to police reports, the three persons sustained gunshot wounds during the violence, though the exact cause of death will be determined after autopsies, the India Today reported.
The administration has suspended internet services and closed schools in the area as tensions remain high. Several individuals, including two women accused of throwing stones from rooftops, have been arrested in connection with the incident. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as the region braces for potential further unrest.
