Sambhal mosque row: SC to hear Shahi Masjid Committee's plea challenging district court’s order today

According to the cause list of November 29 uploaded on the apex court website, a bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna is scheduled to hear the plea filed by the Committee of Management, Shahi Jama Masjid, Sambhal. The plea has sought an ex-parte stay on the operation of the November 19 order passed by the civil judge. "The hot haste in which the survey was allowed and conducted all within a day and suddenly another survey was conducted with a notice of barely six hours has given rise to widespread communal tensions and threatens the secular and democratic fabric of the nation," it said. 

The situation in Sambhal remained tense after the violence in Sambhal on Sunday, which left four persons dead and 20 injured, triggered a political slugfest both inside and outside Parliament, as the state government announced strict measures, including making the rioters pay for damages and displaying their posters in public spaces. Tension has been brewing in Sambhal since November 19 when a court-ordered survey of the mosque was carried out following claims that a Harihar temple previously stood at the site.

Violence erupted on Sunday as protesters gathered near the mosque and clashed with security personnel, leading to stone pelting and arson.

Police hold flag march ahead of Friday prayers 

Uttar Pradesh police held a flag march in areas near the Shahi Jama Masjid on Thursday, a day before Friday prayers, with top officials saying watertight security was put in place to prevent untoward incidents. The flag march was led by Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Srish Chandra. The police team marched through the busy markets that partially reopened on Thursday.

Most of the shops opened for the first time on Thursday since the November 24 violence over a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque that left four persons dead and several other injured.

"The situation is completely peaceful and normal," ASP Chandra said. Asked about the Friday prayers, he added, "Sufficient police force has been deployed and we are prepared to tackle any situation."

The local police and the district administration have called a meeting with local Muslim clerics regarding the prayers.

The advocate commissioner's report of the survey is expected to be presented in court on November 29, where both parties will have the opportunity to respond. 

Even though normality has started to return to Sambhal, business owners in markets near the mosque claimed that they had been suffering losses since the incident.

Among the worst hit are shop owners in the bullion market, located about half a kilometre from the mosque. Ajay Kumar Gupta, a bullion trader, said the market had about 70-80 shops. "Despite the ongoing wedding season, our sales have dropped considerably. Hardly three customers have come to my shop in the last four days." He claimed that the losses of shop owners following the violence ran into crores.

Thirty police teams have been formed to identify and arrest the accused using CCTV camera footage. More than 100 images of suspected rioters from the Kot Garvi area have been released. Despite the markets and schools reopening, the Internet ban was extended by 48 hours on Wednesday as a "precautionary measure".