Sun Nov 24 07:53:15 UTC 2024: ## Sambhal Mosque Survey Sparks Violent Clashes
**Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, India –** Violent clashes erupted in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, November 24, 2024, as hundreds protested a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid mosque. The survey, initiated following a complaint alleging the mosque was built on the site of a demolished Hindu temple, resulted in a tense standoff and stone-pelting by protesters despite a heavy police presence.
Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, which had gathered around the 16th-century mosque. Despite the violence, a team of administrative officials completed the survey, documenting the process with video and photographs. The head of the Jama Masjid appealed for calm, urging protestors to leave the area.
A Sambhal police officer confirmed the situation is under control, stating that top district officials are holding a meeting to address the incident. Attempts by The Hindu to contact the Superintendent of Police and the local Lok Sabha Member were unsuccessful due to their involvement in the high-level meeting. This is the second survey conducted at the mosque, following an initial survey on November 19th.
First Piper 