Deadly clashes broke out in India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state on Sunday over a controversial survey of a 17th-century mosque. The violence left at least two people dead and 16 police officers seriously injured, according to local authorities. However, the Press Trust of India reported three fatalities.
The unrest erupted in Sambhal when a team of surveyors, acting on a local court’s orders, entered the Shahi Jama Masjid. The court had approved the survey following a petition by a Hindu priest who alleged that the mosque was constructed over a Hindu temple during the Mughal era. This claim reflects a broader pattern where right-wing Hindu groups have laid claim to several mosques, asserting they were built atop temples.
Protesters threw rocks at the police, prompting the authorities to respond with tear gas to disperse the crowds. The situation quickly escalated into violent street battles.
The incident comes against the backdrop of rising Hindu nationalist sentiments under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Earlier this year, Modi inaugurated a grand temple in Ayodhya, built on the site of the Babri Mosque, which was demolished in 1992 by activists affiliated with Modi’s party. The demolition led to nationwide riots that killed 2,000 people, mostly Muslims, and marked a turning point in sectarian violence in India.
Modi’s leadership has seen growing calls for India to prioritize Hindu supremacy, creating anxiety among the country’s Muslim minority, which numbers around 210 million. Many fear an erosion of their rights as Hindu nationalist movements gain traction.
Sunday’s clashes in Sambhal are a stark reminder of the deepening religious tensions in India, with historical grievances being reignited in the present. Authorities are now working to contain the situation and prevent further violence.
