Violence erupted in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday as Indian Muslim protesters clashed with police over a controversial survey investigating whether a 17th-century mosque was built on a Hindu temple site.
At least two people have been confirmed dead, with reports suggesting the toll could rise, while 16 police officers sustained serious injuries during the unrest.
The turmoil began when surveyors entered the Shahi Jama Masjid under a local court order, following a petition from a Hindu priest claiming the mosque was constructed over a historic temple. Protesters responded with rocks, prompting police to deploy tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The incident underscores the rising tensions surrounding claims by Hindu nationalist groups that several mosques were built over temples during the Mughal era. This movement gained momentum after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a new Hindu temple in Ayodhya earlier this year, built on the site of the demolished Babri mosque, which was destroyed in 1992, sparking deadly riots.
As sectarian violence resurfaces, concerns grow among India’s roughly 210 million Muslims about their future in a nation increasingly influenced by Hindu nationalism. The situation in Sambhal highlights the urgent need for dialogue and reconciliation in a country struggling with its diverse identity.
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