UP mosque survey violence

The recent outbreak of violence in Sambhal city of Uttar Pradesh is yet another example of state-sponsored saffron terror In India. Hindutva extremists have besieged the Muslim-majority town, claiming that a notable local mosque, built in the 16th century, actually stands on the site of a Hindu temple.

Earlier this month, an extremist Hindu priest, short on evidence but big on bluster, filed a court case making the claim about the mosque. Despite India's notoriously slow court system, within days, the court had ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to review the claim, and ASI conducted a survey within days. That survey was uneventful and was even facilitated by local Muslim community leaders. However, the ASI ordered another survey a few days later, which local Muslims found to be inexplicable and unnecessary. The second survey began on Nov 24 but was immediately confronted by protesters. Police admit to using batons and teargas to disperse the crowd, leading to several injuries. However, all six deceased men - some of whom were not even protesting - were shot with live ammunition, raising questions over who killed them. The police claim their personnel did not have live ammunition. Muslim leaders though blame the police. Meanwhile, the police have filed cases against several local Muslim leaders, including the Muslim parliamentarians, who just happen to be part of one of the ruling BJP's rivals.

BJP leaders at state and national level are accusing opposition parties of conspiring to create violence, while opposition parties have noted that Hindutva groups are the ones with a track record of using such violence to threaten and harass Muslims and other minorities. It is also worth noting that the ASI has been slammed by reputable historians for having turned into "the handmaiden of Hindutva" over recent years, drawing implausible conclusions from minute findings to support Hindutva fantasies popularised by Hindutva 'historians' who lack any formal education in the field.