"Jama Masjid is ours, will fight with law and evidence": All India Muslim Jamaat chief after Sambhal incident

Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 24 (ANI): National President of All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi on Sunday criticised the stone pelting and vandalism in Sambhal and appealed to the Muslim community to maintain peace and tranquillity in the district.
Speaking to ANI, Maulana Barelvi said, "Stone pelting and vandalism is not appropriate. I appeal to the Muslims of Sambhal to maintain Islam's teachings of peace and tranquillity. As far as the court proceedings are concerned, the Jama Masjid is ours. Its towers, walls, and domes hold proof that it is a Tarikhi Masjid. We will fight this through law and strong evidence, and the success will be ours."

Meanwhile, reacting to the stone pelting, Acharya Pramod Krishnam said, "The leaders of Samajwadi Party (SP) are freaked out after getting defeated in the UP by-polls. They are behind the violence in the Sambhal district. I would like to appeal to the Yogi Adityanath government and UP police to take action against those who are trying to insight violence here."

BJP MP Kangana Ranaut was also swift to react on the incident and said, "It is no more hidden that not only Sambhal but there are a lot of places in our country where Hindus are not able to enter. In such areas, people are trying to implement Sharia laws and refugees are being given fake identities. We can see the importance of our mantra 'Ek hain to safe hain' and 'Batenge to katenge'. We have to stay united in our country."

Earlier in the day, Sambhal DM Rajender Pensiyia said, "The survey has been completed. The survey team have been safely taken out. The situation is being brought under control. Strict action will be taken against mischievous elements. No one will be spared."
Sambhal Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishan Kumar who on Sunday morning arrived at the stone pelting incident site in Sambhal assured that the law and order situation has been brought under control and that peace was restored in the area.
The survey of the mosque was successfully completed despite the chaos, the official said asserting that stringent action will be taken against the accused after their identification.
The Superintendant of Police also said that some of the vehicles of sub-inspectors of police parked near the premises of Jama Masjid were set on fire and several properties in the area suffered damages during the stone pelting incident.
Senior advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain spoke to ANI about the survey and said that in compliance with the Court's order issued on November 19, the second-day survey was conducted on Sunday by the Advocate Commissioner.
He confirmed that all features were examined, and the videography and photography as directed by the Court were completed. Jain added that the survey has now concluded, and the report will be submitted to the court by November 29.

An ASI team that arrived at the Shahi Jama Masjid to conduct a survey of the mosque in Sambhal district amid heavy police deployment faced stone-pelting from some "anti-social elements" on Sunday morning, police said.
This survey was part of a legal process following a petition filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shanker Jain, who claimed the mosque was originally a temple.
A similar survey was previously conducted on November 19, with local police and members of the mosque's management committee present to oversee the process. (ANI)