On a day the Supreme Court asked the management committee of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal to approach the Allahabad High Court, the district court, where the legal battle over the mosque began, assembled to hear the matter for the first time since it allowed a survey of the 16th century structure. Advocate Commissioner Ramesh Raghav, who had been appointed to carry out the survey, told Civil Judge (Senior Division) Aditya Singh that the ASI would need 10 more days to submit its report. The court granted the request. Advocate Commissioner Raghav told The Indian Express that the violence and protests delayed the report. “When the first survey was conducted on November 19, there was sloganeering. During the second survey on November 24, there was a lot of violence, and the situation went out of control and it was difficult to conduct the survey,” he said. “We have finished the videography and photography of the Shahi Jama Masjid. The survey was conducted. in five hours. We did not file the survey report today as we have not been able to analyse and scrutinise the video footage and pictures. We will submit it once it is done,” he added. Advocate Gopal Sharma, who represents the Hindu side in the trial court, said the survey involved photography and videography only. “Nothing else was done. Water from the wazukhana was emptied to take pictures,” he said. “The Advocate Commissioner today asked the court for more time to file the survey report. We have informed the court that written statements from our side will be submitted on January 8,” said Shakeel Warsi, the lawyer representing the Shahi Jama Masjid. Sambhal had been on the edge since the survey team first visited the mosque on November 19, hours after the court admitted a suit filed by eight plaintiffs who alleged that the mosque was built after destroying a “Shri Hari Har Temple”. The second day of the survey, November 24, turned violent as stones were pelted at the survey team, following which four people died of gunshot wounds metres away from the mosque. Police, however, claimed the bullets were not fired by them. On Friday, 27 kilometres from the court, people gathered to offer namaz at the mosque. Metal detectors were installed temporarily at the entrance in the morning, ahead of the congregation of devotees for Friday prayers. “Around 750 to 800 people gathered to offer namaz at the Shahi Jama Masjid peacefully today. We have been able to establish a sense of trust among the people. Now we are trying to identify and apprehend those who planned the conspiracy and collect evidence against them,” said Moradabad's Divisional Commissioner, Aunjaneya Kumar Singh. He also said that 30 people have been arrested and 300 identified so far.
