• Source:JND
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A court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era Jama Masjid led to clashes between the local people and police in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, leading to the deaths of four individuals. The chaos erupted when a large group of locals tried to interfere as soon as the survey team, led by an "Advocate Commissioner" began its work. The crowd also tried to prevent the police from entering the mosque and pelted stones at the police personnel. 

In order to control the violence, the police responded with tear gas as four people were killed, and over 30 police personnel got injured in the violence, reported Jagran.com. Earlier, Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, Moradabad Divisional Commissioner, said that some of the police personnel got injured as they tried to control the chaos.

Sambhal District Magistrate also issued a notification prohibiting any outsider, social organization or public representative from entering Sambhal without the orders of the authorities. In spite of the violence, the officials completed the survey task and advocated Vishnu Shankar Jain said that the survey was concluded as per the directives of the court, and it will be submitted to the court by November 29. 

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"Three people identified as Naeem, Bilal, and Nauman have been killed. Some policemen, including the gunner of the superintendent of police, have also been injured," Singh was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India. He further informed that 15 people, three women among them, have been arrested in connection with the incident. 

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The controversy around Jama Masjid began after several of the Hindu communities claimed that it was built on the site of a Hindu temple. The survey is part of the legal battle and part of a process initiated by a petition claiming that a temple once stood in place of the mosque. The district administration has directed schools in the region to stay closed till November 25.