logo
Sambhal temple-mosque row: Court to hear plea for ban on namaz at disputed site on July 21

Sambhal temple-mosque row: Court to hear plea for ban on namaz at disputed site on July 21

The Hindu4 days ago
A Chandausi court in Sambhal district on Thursday (July 3, 2025) set July 21 to hear a plea seeking ban on offering of namaz at the disputed Shahi Jama Masjid, which is claimed to be Harihar Temple.
The petition sought the ban on offering of Islamic prayers citing its 'disputed status'.
Civil Judge (Senior Division) Aditya Singh took on record the plea filed by one Simran Gupta.
The dispute had previously reached the Allahabad High Court, where the Muslim side challenged the subordinate court's order for a survey of the mosque premises.
On May 19, however, the High Court upheld the trial court's decision and directed that proceedings continue there.
The petitioner argued that since the site was deemed disputed by the court, Muslims too should be barred from offering prayers, just as Hindus were restricted from worship.
The plea requested that the mosque be sealed and placed under the custody of the Sambhal District Magistrate.
Ms. Gupta also sought to be made a petitioner on behalf of the Hindu side.
Both matters will come up on July 21.
The original suit was filed on November 19, 2023, by eight Hindu petitioners, including advocates Hari Shankar Jain and Vishnu Shankar Jain.
On that day, a court-ordered survey was conducted at the mosque.
A second round of survey was carried out on November 24, after which the matter was placed before the Chandausi Civil Court. The last hearing was held on April 28.
Advocate Sri Gopal Sharma, representing the Hindu side, told PTI that the High Court's order rejecting the Muslim side plea was submitted in court as part of the record.
On the other hand, advocate Qasim Jamal, representing the Shahi Jama Masjid, acknowledged that the opposing side had submitted the High Court's ruling and said the mosque's legal team would abide by whatever order the court issues.
Advocate Babu Lal Saxena, who filed the petition seeking a stay on namaz, told PTI that his client Ms. Gupta believes religious activity by any group should be restricted at the disputed site until a final judgment is passed.
The case saw violent clashes in Sambhal on November 24, 2024, during the second survey at the mosque site.
The unrest led to the deaths of four individuals and injuries to 29 police personnel.
Following the violence, police named Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq and Shahi Jama Masjid president Zafar Ali in FIRs, along with 2,750 unidentified individuals.
To date, 96 people including Zafar Ali and several advocates have been sent to jail in connection with the incident.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'I May Be Marathi In Maha But...': Bal Thackeray's Old Video Resurfaces Amid Language Row
'I May Be Marathi In Maha But...': Bal Thackeray's Old Video Resurfaces Amid Language Row

News18

time17 minutes ago

  • News18

'I May Be Marathi In Maha But...': Bal Thackeray's Old Video Resurfaces Amid Language Row

An old video of Bal Thackeray has resurfaced, sparking debate over language identity in Maharashtra. While Uddhav and Raj opposed BJP's Hindi "imposition." An old video of late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray has resurfaced online, reigniting the political and cultural debate over language identity in Maharashtra. In the clip, Thackeray, draped in a saffron shawl, can be seen saying, 'I may be Marathi in Maharashtra but I am Hindu in Bharat," and urging people to 'embrace Hindutva over linguistic identities." This comes amid the disagreement between his successors, son Uddhav Thackeray and nephew Raj, and the ruling Mahayuti alliance, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, over the primacy of Marathi against the 'imposition" of Hindi. 'I may be Marathi in Maharashtra but I am Hindu in Bharat. We must embrace Hindutva over linguistic identities"Balasaheb Thackeray — Kashmiri Hindu (@BattaKashmiri) July 5, 2025 The clip was shared on social media on Saturday night, hours after Uddhav and Raj Thackeray shared a stage in Mumbai for a rare 'victory rally'. The event marked their joint opposition to a state directive making Hindi the default language for students in Classes I to V — a decision that has since been partially rolled back following protests. Using the occasion to assert Marathi pride, Uddhav announced that he and Raj would contest the upcoming Mumbai civic elections together. Meanwhile, Raj Thackeray said, 'Try to touch Maharashtra and see what happens." He accused the central government's three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP) of being a 'precursor to the plan of separating Mumbai from Maharashtra". The language row intensified in April when the Maharashtra government ordered Hindi to be made mandatory ta primary school level. In response, pro-Marathi groups termed it as 'Hindi imposition" and protests broke out. Although the directive was softened — making Hindi the default third language unless 20 or more students opted out. The linguistic tension has also triggered violence. Supporters of Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) attacked a shopkeeper in Mumbai and a man in Pune for not speaking Marathi and criticising Raj Thackeray. Another video showed staff from a Uddhav Sena MP's office assaulting mobile store employees. Caught in the crossfire, the state government faces pressure to balance the BJP-led Centre's push for Hindi with the sentiments of Marathi voters. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has condemned the violence while reaffirming the need to respect Marathi as the state language. First Published: July 07, 2025, 13:45 IST

College student abducted and assaulted near Bengaluru; Eight in police custody: Report
College student abducted and assaulted near Bengaluru; Eight in police custody: Report

Hindustan Times

time20 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

College student abducted and assaulted near Bengaluru; Eight in police custody: Report

In a disturbing case reported from the outskirts of Bengaluru, eight individuals have been taken into custody after a college student was allegedly abducted and subjected to a violent assault, police confirmed on Monday, as per reports from news agency PTI. Bengaluru police registered a case under charges including kidnapping and robbery. (iStockphoto) ALSO READ | Bengaluru auto driver snatches ₹10,000 cash from elderly passenger, flees: Report The incident unfolded on June 30 in Soladevanahalli, located in the Nelamangala region near Bengaluru. The victim, identified as Kushal, reportedly sent an inappropriate message to a young woman, prompting her to alert a group of acquaintances. ALSO READ | Karnataka police find over 50 explicit videos on Hindu leader's phone amid ongoing investigation: Report According to investigators, the group allegedly lured Kushal into a vehicle before driving him to an isolated location. There, he was stripped and beaten, with the attackers issuing chilling threats referencing the recent Renukaswamy murder case, which has drawn widespread attention due to its links to Kannada actor Darshan and many of his associates. A video of the assault, which surfaced online and quickly went viral, shows the perpetrators likening themselves to the key suspects in the Renukaswamy case, naming themselves as "accused number one, two, and three" while identifying the victim as Renukaswamy, the report stated. ALSO READ | Bengaluru set for largest electric bus fleet under PM e-Drive initiative: Report Police acted swiftly, registering a case under charges including kidnapping and robbery. All eight accused were arrested and are currently in custody, officials confirmed. Their identities have not yet been revealed. Further investigation is underway and more details are awaited. Over 50 explicit clips found on Hindu leader's phone in Karnataka In a similar incident in Mangaluru, police discovered more than 50 sexually explicit video clips from the mobile phone of Samith Raj Dharegudde, a district-level co-convenor of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike in Dakshina Kannada district during investigation into a separate case. (With inputs from PTI)

Karnataka police find over 50 explicit videos on Hindu leader's phone amid ongoing investigation: Report
Karnataka police find over 50 explicit videos on Hindu leader's phone amid ongoing investigation: Report

Hindustan Times

time20 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

Karnataka police find over 50 explicit videos on Hindu leader's phone amid ongoing investigation: Report

In an unexpected development during an ongoing investigation, Moodbidri police have uncovered over 50 sexually explicit video clips from the mobile phone of Samith Raj Dharegudde, a district-level co-convenor of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike in Dakshina Kannada, news agency PTI reported. Moodbidri Police in Karnataka have filed a separate First Information Report (FIR) concerning the explicit material. ALSO READ | Bengaluru set for largest electric bus fleet under PM e-Drive initiative: Report Dharegudde, who was earlier granted bail in a separate case involving alleged stone-pelting at a private bus, came under renewed scrutiny when his device was subjected to a forensic analysis at the Cybercrime and Economic Offenses Lab (CEN Lab) in Mangaluru. The examination, carried out with court and senior official authorization, was part of the continuing probe into his earlier arrest. ALSO READ | Prestige Group to build 1.5-km flyover in Bengaluru linking Bellandur to ORR to ease traffic congestion: Report Sources close to the investigation revealed that officers were taken aback by the nature of the content extracted, which reportedly includes explicit scenes involving both male and female individuals. One of the videos is rumoured to feature a well-known political figure from the coastal region, though authorities have not confirmed any identities, the report said. Moodbidri Police have since filed a separate First Information Report (FIR) concerning the explicit material. A police official confirmed that legal action is being pursued under applicable sections related to obscenity and potential threats to public morality, as reported by PTI. ALSO READ | 'What kind of mafia nonsense is this?': Bengaluru commuter's rant over cab chaos goes viral Officials also expressed concern over the possible dissemination of the content, citing risks to community harmony and personal reputations. Steps are now being taken to trace the origins of the videos and establish the identities of those featured. Dharegudde has not yet responded to the allegations, and police have indicated that he will soon be summoned for further questioning in connection with the newly discovered material. (With inputs from PTI)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store