Sun Nov 24 15:38:29 UTC 2024: **Three Dead in Sambhal Mosque Survey Violence**
SAMBHAL, INDIA – Three young men were killed and several police officers injured during violent clashes that erupted in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, following a survey of the Jama Masjid mosque on Sunday. The violence prompted authorities to impose an internet shutdown and effectively a curfew in the area.
The clashes began around 6:30 AM when a team of officials, including the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, arrived to conduct a survey of the mosque. This sparked outrage among members of the Muslim community, leading to a large gathering of approximately 2,000-3,000 people outside the mosque.
The situation escalated rapidly when the crowd began pelting stones at police officers. Police responded with tear gas and lathi charges, but the violence continued, resulting in injuries to at least 15 police officers, including the Circle Officer and the SP’s PRO, who suffered gunshot wounds. The rioters also set fire to three four-wheeled vehicles and five motorcycles.
Commissioner Anjaney Singh confirmed the deaths of the three young men, but stated that they were not killed by police gunfire, claiming the fatalities resulted from the attackers’ own fire. However, the victims’ families allege they were killed by police.
The violence spread to other areas, including the constituency of Samajwadi Party MP Bark, where further stone-pelting incidents were reported. Senior police officials, including ADG Ramit Sharma and IG Muniraj, have arrived at the scene to manage the situation. All three roads leading to the Jama Masjid have been barricaded. The removal of four trolley loads of stones from the streets underscores the scale of the violence. The internet has been suspended for the next 24 hours in Sambhal tehsil.
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