DNA Exclusive: Reality behind Sambhal’s mosque and temple dispute

A contentious issue has emerged in Sambhal as to whether the Jama Masjid land was once a Hindu temple. In today’s episode of DNA, Zee News has presented the irrefutable evidence that suggests that the Jama Masjid was built over an ancient Hindu temple, as per the results of a recent survey.

As Zee News reporters went to investigate, startling revelations came to light that will force many people who claim there is only one mosque in the area to reconsider their stance.

Threats against lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain

A worrying development is emerging in the ongoing Sambhal case: threats are being made against Vishnu Shankar Jain, a lawyer representing the Hindu side of the mosque-temple dispute. His role in the case has made him a target, and disturbing news suggests a serious threat to his life.

This raises questions about the motivations behind such threats. Could they be aiming to derail the case, or is there a more sinister intention behind it?

Vishnu Shankar Jain: Targeted for revealing truth?

Vishnu Shankar Jain has been at the forefront of legal battles related to Hindu religious sites, including the Ram Mandir-Babri case, the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi case and others. Recently in Sambhal, Jain was accused by certain quarters of inciting violence during the mosque poll despite evidence to the contrary.

CCTV footage clearly shows that the attackers, not Jain, are responsible for the violence. However, Jain has been targeted on social media with claims that he instigated the riots.

In an exclusive interview, Jain denied these allegations and suggested that the threats against him were aimed at silencing the truth and derailing the case. His answer raises some critical questions: Is there a truth about the Jama Masjid in Sambhal that some groups want to suppress? Why is Vishnu Shankar Jain being targeted?

The Reality of the Sambhal Riots

Violent mobs actively participated in the recent unrest in Sambhal. CCTV footage from November 24 shows masked individuals throwing stones into narrow alleys, an action encouraged by a provocative figure egging on the crowd.

This person, dressed in white with a black scarf and hat, repeatedly calls on the mob to move forward and escalate their actions. This footage has led to the identification of key individuals responsible for inciting the violence.

After the riots, police came under scrutiny for their actions and were accused of indiscriminately firing at a Muslim crowd. However, further investigation, including more video evidence, suggests that police were simply maintaining order and were not acting as recklessly as some critics claimed.

New claims for ancient temple artifacts at Sambhal

In addition to the mosque-temple dispute, new claims have emerged about ancient Hindu temple artifacts found at Sambhal. Archaeologists claim that remains of the Hindu temple of Lord Vishnu, including idols and relics from the Gupta period, have been discovered. These claims support the theory that the Jama Masjid at Sambhal was built over an ancient temple.

Atul Mishra, an archaeologist from Sambhal, and his family have collected these artifacts over the years, including a statue of Lord Vishnu and a relic resembling the Vishnu Chakra.

Mishra argues that these finds, combined with historical records, indicate that the Jama Masjid site was once home to the Harirh Temple, which was demolished to build the mosque.

ASI’s allegations against Jama Masjid Committee

Another interesting aspect of the dispute concerns the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). ASI has filed an affidavit in the Sambhal court accusing the Jama Masjid management of obstructing archaeological inspections.

Although the Jama Masjid has been a heritage site since 1920, ASI officials claim that they have been denied access to carry out necessary conservation work. During recent inspections, ASI found changes to the mosque structure that it said were made to conceal the original temple-like foundation.

This raises the question: Why is the Jama Masjid Committee interfering in the work of ASI? Are they trying to cover up evidence that could reveal the truth about the mosque’s origins?