Sambhal mayhem

THE clash between protesters and cops during a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque in Sambhal district has added another tragic chapter to the annals of communal violence in Uttar Pradesh. The flare-up, which claimed four lives, came two days after Friday prayers were held peacefully at the Shahi Jama Masjid amid tight security. A survey had also been conducted there on November 19, with police officials and members of the mosque’s management committee overseeing the process. So, why did the situation spin out of control on Sunday despite heavy police deployment?

According to the Moradabad Divisional Commissioner, some people started hurling stones at the survey team when it was leaving the premises. If this was indeed the case, was the attack premeditated, and who planned it? And was the response of the police proportionate to the provocation? A fair and transparent probe is needed to answer these questions.

The registration of a case against a Samajwadi Party (SP) MP and an SP legislator’s son on the charge of inciting violence has triggered a political slugfest. The SP and its ally in UP, the Congress, have blamed the BJP government for the alleged use of excessive force by the police, while the ruling party has accused local politicians of orchestrating riots and obstructing officials from doing their duty. Considering the sensitivity of the case, political and religious leaders must exercise restraint in their speeches and actions. Troublemakers and rabble-rousers who are opposing a survey duly ordered by the court should be brought to book. It’s the job of the Archaeological Survey of India to scientifically ascertain whether a Hindu temple existed at the site where the mosque is located. At every step, the due process of law has to be followed. The Supreme Court’s recent guidelines aimed at curbing ‘bulldozer justice’ should deter the authorities from resorting to overreach not only during demolition drives but also during surveys and inspections.