Sambhal Mosque Survey Violence Live Updates: Sambhal Police conducts flag march after mosque survey violence

A Samajwadi party delegation will visit Sambhal to investigate the recent violence and submit a report to party chief Akhilesh Yadav. Party in its X post said, " Following directions from Samajwadi party national president Akhilesh Yadav, a party delegation will visit Sambhal to investigate the recent violence and submit a report to him. The delegation includes leaders such as Assembly Opposition Leader Mata Prasad Pandey, Legislative Council Opposition Leader Lal Bihari Yadav, Rajya Sabha MP Javed Ali, Lok Sabha MPs Harinder Malik, Ruchi Veera, Zia ur Rehman Barq, Neeraj Maurya, MLAs Nawab Iqbal, Pinky Yadav, Kamal Akhtar, and district presidents Jaiveer Yadav (Moradabad) and Shivcharan Kashyap (Bareilly)."

'The court order came at 2.38 pm (on 24th Nov), and then we reached the mosque at around 5-5.30 pm. A copy of the Advocate Commissioner order was received and signed by him...Zafar sahib said he saw the Police firing. I want to ask him if was he busy getting the survey done or seeing the firing. He was getting the survey done between 1030-1045 hours. While all this happened between 1000-1100 hours," DM Rajerdra Pensiya added.

The management committee of Sambhal's Jama Masjid has blamed local authorities and police for the violence that erupted in the area, leading to four deaths. Zafar Ali, president of the mosque's management committee, made the allegations at a press conference and was detained by the police afterward. Ali stated, "The recent survey of the mosque was not conducted under court orders but solely on the directions of the District Magistrate. This survey was carried out unlawfully." He held Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vandana Mishra and Circle Officer Anuj Kumar responsible for the incident.

Ali alleged that SDM Mishra insisted on draining the water from the mosque’s ablution tank (wazukhana), despite the district magistrate and police suggesting a less intrusive method. He said, "Draining the water led to a confusion among those gathered outside, who believed excavation was taking place and it provoked the crowd." Ali further accused CO Kumar of provoking the crowd, claiming, "Anuj Kumar abused the people gathered outside the mosque and ordered a lathi charge, which led to a chaos." Ali also alleged police fired at the crowd, saying, "I personally witnessed the police firing at the crowd."

Police conducted a flag march on Monday in areas affected by Sunday’s violence, where stone pelting erupted during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. The march aimed to restore peace and assure residents of strict action against those involved. Prohibitory orders and heavy police deployment remain in place.

Samajwadi Party MPs, led by party chief Akhilesh Yadav, met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday to discuss the Sambhal violence. The delegation raised concerns about the FIRs against SP MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and others, alleging the government orchestrated the unrest. Yadav demanded a fair investigation into the incident, which claimed three lives.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the Uttar Pradesh government of orchestrating the violence in Sambhal, calling it a "riot." He demanded the suspension of police officials and administrative personnel responsible for the deaths, and called for murder charges to be filed against them.

"It is very sad and painful, our condolences to the four-five people who died and the police personnel who got injured. The administration is completely responsible for this. The reason is the SDM was present there, I was also there. she insisted on opening the water of the hose while the SP and DM said that it can be measured with a stick. She didn't agree and got the water released. After the water was released, public thought that the masjid is being excavated. A rumour was spread, which incited the people," said Mohd Zafar Ali, advocate, Sadar Jama Masjid Committee, Sambhal.

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ziaur Rehman Barq, accused of provoking violence in Sambhal during the mosque survey, has denied the allegations. He called the case against him a "conspiracy" by the Uttar Pradesh police and claimed it is false, as he was not in the state when the incident happened.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday accused the BJP of fueling communal tensions in Uttar Pradesh through incidents like the Sambhal mosque survey, calling it an attempt at nationwide polarisation. Criticizing the Yogi Adityanath-led government, Yadav alleged "lumpenisation" of law enforcement. Warning BJP against employing similar tactics in Bihar, the opposition leader said the party prioritizes divisive politics over development. Responding to Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh's remark on Muslim voters, Yadav labeled him a BJP mouthpiece, contrasting it with RJD's inclusive governance under Lalu Prasad. Yadav also highlighted RJD's contributions to minorities and upper castes while denouncing divisive rhetoric.

"The Sambhal incident is a result of the politics of hatred done by this government. The way five people have been killed there, a judicial inquiry must be done into it," says UP Congress president Ajay Rai before observing a vow of silence in Lucknow over the Sambhal violence.

On the incident of stone pelting in Sambhal, Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, commissioner Moradabad says, "The situation in Sambhal is peaceful, Investigation is going on. FIRs have been registered. FIR regarding instigation has been registered against Sambhal MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq and local MLA's son. 4 people have died. The injured are being treated. Strict action will be taken, if needed NSA will also be imposed."

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, criticized the ruling BJP over the violence in Sambhal on Monday, accusing the party of showing "insensitive actions" in their response. He alleged that their actions were exacerbating divisions and fostering discrimination between Hindu and Muslim communities.

In response to the unrest in Sambhal, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condemned the actions of the Yogi Adityanath-led government, accusing it of sowing division. She also urged the Supreme Court to intervene and provide justice in the matter.

On the stone pelting incident in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak says, "A survey was being carried out there (Sambhal) on the orders of the court. Whatever incident happened is very sad. Investigation will be done in the incident."

"I want to appeal to all the Hindus, Muslims to maintain peace. The survey team had come, suddenly it happened. I pray to god it does not happen again. It is very sad. People should maintain harmony. The administration was strict. It might be possible that the incident would have happened due to rumours. Our message to people is to maintain harmony," said Masud Farooqui, Secretary of Jama Masjid committee on violence at mosque in UP's Sambhal.

"The situation in Sambhal is peaceful now. People have started going back to their work. We conducted a morning patrol and observed peace in all areas; there are no issues. I appeal to everyone to remain peaceful. An investigation is underway into yesterday's incident... Three people have been confirmed dead, and one person died today during treatment. As of now, we have information of four casualties," said Moradabad DIG Muniraj G.

The district administration has enforced prohibitory orders and restricted outsider entry until November 30 after violent protests erupted against a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque, resulting in three deaths and numerous injuries, including among security and administrative staff. The orders were issued under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) provisions, as confirmed by District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya on Sunday.

A day after violence and stone-pelting targeted a survey team in Sambhal district, security has been intensified around the Shahi Jama Masjid to maintain order and prevent further escalation.

Divisional commissioner Aunjaneya Singh provided an account of the incident, stating: “The survey continued peacefully for two hours, but around 9am, a crowd of nearly 2,000–3,000 people gathered and began throwing stones at the police personnel stationed for security. Despite initial efforts to disperse them with tear gas and lathi charges, the mob intensified its attack and started firing from nearby houses, leading to injuries among officers, including the SP’s PRO, SDM Ramesh Babu, and circle officer Anuj Chaudhary, who was hit by bullet pellets.”

The survey, conducted by an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team under the supervision of court commissioner Ramesh Singh and in the presence of district magistrate Rajendra Pensia, superintendent of police Krishan Kumar, and other officials, commenced at 7am on Sunday. Initially, the process remained peaceful. However, by 9am, tensions escalated as a crowd gathered outside the mosque, reportedly shouting slogans and pelting stones at the police.

To ensure the safety of the survey team, authorities evacuated them from the affected area. Further, internet services were suspended across the district by Sunday evening to curb misinformation and plan further security measures. The district administration continues to investigate the incident and implement measures to restore order.

The unrest later spread to the Deep Sarai area, where individuals allegedly threw stones from their homes. Witnesses reported that children aged 12 to 15 were being used as human shields.

Many perpetrators were reportedly under 25 years old, and the involvement of women was significant, with two women detained. Several vehicles were set ablaze, prompting the deployment of additional forces from neighboring districts.

Three people lost their lives, and several others, including around 20 police personnel, sustained injuries when a court-ordered survey at the Mughal-era Jama Masjid in Sambhal escalated into violent clashes on Sunday morning. As of late Sunday, three individuals, including a police officer wounded in the firing, were reported to be in critical condition.