Violence over mosque survey in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal kills five, Rahul Gandhi urges SC to intervene

Thirty-six cops were injured after a mob pelted stones at the survey team and police personnel in the western Uttar Pradesh town on Sunday.

Several vehicles were torched.

A First Information Report has been registered against Sambhal MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq for allegedly inciting violence in the town.

The administration has barred outsiders' entry into Sambhal till November 30.

The order reads as quoted by The Hindu, "No outsiders, other social organisations or public representatives will enter the district border without the permission of the competent officer."

Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh for the violence, calling the 'survey' move "biased" and "hasty".

He wrote on X, "The biased and hasty attitude of the state government on the recent dispute in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh is extremely unfortunate. My deepest condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the violence and firing.

"The administration's insensitive action without listening to all parties further vitiated the situation and resulted in the death of many people - for which the BJP government is directly responsible. BJP's use of power to create rift and discrimination between Hindu-Muslim communities is neither in the interest of the state nor the country."

"I request the Supreme Court to intervene in this matter as soon as possible and provide justice. My appeal is to maintain peace and mutual harmony. We all have to join together to ensure that India moves forward on the path of unity and constitution, not communalism and hatred," he added.

Tension prevailed in the town since last month after a local court ordered a survey of the Mughal-era Jama Masjid.

The order was passed after a plea claiming a Harihar temple existed at the site until Babar demolished it.

The first round of the survey was conducted last Tuesday. The violence broke out during the second round on Sunday. 

When the survey team reached the site, a mob started shouting slogans and soon the scenario escalated to clash and violence forcing the cops to use force to take control of the situation.