A judicial commission report describes the violence in Sambhal as a pre-planned conspiracy to obstruct a court-ordered survey of a disputed site [1].
The findings highlight the volatility of land and religious disputes in Uttar Pradesh, where legal mandates for surveys can trigger organized civil unrest.
The report, which was tabled Aug. 6, 2024 [2], examines events that occurred in November 2024 [1]. The commission found that a mob was incited by local leaders, including SP MP Zia ur Rahman Barq, to prevent the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, a site also claimed to be the location of an ancient Harihar Mandir [1].
According to the panel, the unrest was not spontaneous. "The November 2024 violence was an organised attempt to obstruct the court-ordered survey of the disputed site," the report said [3]. The commission concluded that the action was a calculated effort by local leaders to oppose the judicial process [3].
Court Commissioner Ramesh Raghav provided further detail on the intent of the gathered crowd. "The mob intended to attack the survey team and prevent the court-ordered exercise," Raghav said [2].
The 370-page document outlines how the conspiracy was structured to block the legal exercise of the court's mandate [1]. The judicial commission said, "It was a pre-planned conspiracy by local leaders to oppose the court-ordered survey" [3].
“"The mob intended to attack the survey team and prevent the court-ordered exercise,"”
This report shifts the narrative of the Sambhal unrest from a spontaneous protest to a coordinated legal obstruction. By naming specific political figures and citing a pre-planned conspiracy, the judicial findings provide a legal basis for potential criminal charges against local leaders and underscore the high tension surrounding the Shahi Jama Masjid-Harihar Mandir dispute.
