Starting from Chandausi, nearly 30 km away, the road to Sambhal town in Uttar Pradesh is peppered with security personnel, manning most of the bends. The west UP town, with a population of over 3 lakh, has been on the edge since Tuesday evening when a team of administrative officials carried out a survey of the 16th-century Shahi Jama Masjid within hours after a priest filed a petition in a local court seeking the same and claiming that the mosque was built on the ruins of a temple that was demolished by Muslim rulers. On Thursday, Sambhal town turned into a fortress with two of the three approach roads to the mosque, located at the centre of the town, being sealed. Besides local police, the district administration has pulled in CRPF, PAC , and RAF personnel to man the town. “We have been called from outside (Sambhal). We have no idea about it,” said a police officer, who was positioned outside the mosque along with a dozen colleagues. SP (Sambhal) Krishna Kumar Bishnoi said: “We have initiated every possible action to ensure fool-proof security on Friday in the wake of the court-ordered survey of the mosque. We have held several rounds of talks with clerics and members of the Shahi Masjid committee. They have assured to make regular announcements from their public address system to ensure peace. Multi-layer security rings have been laid to nip in the bud any possibility of trouble.” Station House Officer (Chandausi) Anuj Kumar Tomar said: “This is a Muslim dominated area. 80% of the residents are Muslims. The survey was done Tuesday night and we deployed police personne. Everything is under control.” Anwar Ali, a 72-year-old shopkeeper, said he has been offering prayers at the mosque since he was a kid. Across the mosque, is a school (Santhal Public School) a Hanuman Temple and a bunch of houses belonging to the Hindus. “This is not a masjid. It is a temple. Here, Kalki will be born. Muslims had taken it and now we will get it back,” said 28-year-old Mohan Kumar. Rishi Raj Giri, the mahant of Kalka Devi Temple in Chandausi, claimed that Mughal Emperor Babar had demolished a temple called, Harihar temple, in 1529. “There is a shivalaya inside. A gate that has remained locked for centuries. People have seen it. Now, I have taken things in my hand. Whatever, the court will say, we will abide,” said Giri, whose petition on Tuesday led to the court ordering a survey of the mosque. District Magistrate (Sambhal) Rajendra Pensiya said: “The matter is to be heard in the court next on November 29. So, we thought that the survey should be done as early as possible,” the DM said.
