on a day Supreme Court asked the management committee The people of the royal Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal approached the Allahabad High Court, the district court, where the legal battle over the mosque began, gathered to hear the case for the first time after allowing the survey of the 16th century structure .
Advocate commissioner Ramesh Raghav, appointed to conduct the survey, told civil judge (senior division) Aditya Singh that the ASI would need 10 more days to submit its report. The court accepted the request.
Advocate Commissioner Raghav told Indian Express That the report was delayed due to violence and protests. “When the first survey was conducted on November 19, there was sloganeering. “There was a lot of violence during the second survey on November 24 and the situation went out of control and it became difficult to conduct the survey,” he said.
“We have completed videography and photography of the royal Jama Masjid. The survey was conducted in five hours. We did not file the survey report today as we have not been able to analyze and examine the video footage and photographs. Once it is completed, we will submit it,” he said. Advocate Gopal Sharma, who represented the Hindu side in the trial court, said the survey included only photography and videography. “Nothing else was done. Water was emptied from the Vazukhana to take photographs,” he said.
“Advocate Commissioner today sought more time from the court to file the survey report. Advocate Shakeel Warsi, representing Shahi Jama Masjid, said, we have informed the court that written statements from our side will be submitted on January 8.
Sambhal had been under tension since the survey team first visited the mosque on 19 November, just hours after the court accepted a lawsuit filed by eight plaintiffs alleging that the construction of the mosque ” This was done after destroying “Shri Hari Har Mandir”. The second day of the survey, 24 November, turned violent as stones were pelted at the survey team, leading to the death of four people who were shot a few meters away from the mosque. However, the police claim that the bullets were not fired from their side. On Friday, people had gathered to offer namaz in the mosque 27 kilometers away from the court. Metal detectors were temporarily installed at the entrance in the morning before devotees flocked for Friday prayers.
“Today around 750 to 800 people gathered at Shahi Jama Masjid to offer namaz peacefully. We have been successful in establishing a sense of trust among the people. Now we are trying to identify and nab those who planned the conspiracy and are trying to collect evidence against them,” said Divisional Commissioner of Moradabad, Aunjaneya Kumar Singh. He also said that so far 30 people have been arrested and 300 have been identified.