The death toll from violent protests in India has risen to six after a survey into the origins of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, sparked clashes. The protests were fueled by allegations that the centuries-old mosque was built on the site of a Hindu temple. The violence occurred on Sunday when a team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) attempted to survey the mosque, triggering street battles.
According to district magistrate Chirag Goyal, the six men, all Muslim, were killed by gunfire from fellow protesters. The police, who used tear gas and rubber bullets to control the situation, were not responsible for the deaths. Around 20 police officers were also injured in the violence. In total, 25 people have been arrested following the clashes.
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This unrest is part of a broader controversy surrounding the claim by right-wing Hindu groups that several mosques in India were built on Hindu temple sites during the Mughal Empire. The dispute over the Shahi Jama Masjid escalated after a local Hindu priest petitioned for a survey, claiming the mosque was built on a Hindu temple. The mosque, built in 1526, has been a site of contention for years.
The recent violence in Sambhal highlights the growing tensions surrounding Hindu-Muslim relations in India, a situation that has become more pronounced since the rise of Hindu nationalist sentiments under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
