“Tracing the history of Sambhal: From ancient Puranic legends to Mughal conquests and the colonial account of the centuries-old Harihar Mandir-Shahi Jama Masjid conflict”, Opindia, January 24, 2025:
“A Bench consisting of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar reviews a petition submitted by the Jama Mosque Committee challenging a civil court’s order that permitted a survey of the mosque to ascertain if it was constructed on the remnants of a temple. Violence erupted on November 24 during the study in Sambhal, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to numerous others, including police personnel, a review of the history of the heritage site will be in order.
In 1879 CE, a significant survey report prepared by archaeologist Archibald Campbell Carlleyle for Major General Alexander Cunningham reached the British Army headquarters in British India. It states: “The principal building in Sambhal is the Jami Masjid, which the Hindus claim was originally the temple of Hari Mandir.”
This claim has become central to the legal dispute between the Shahi Jama Masjid and the Harihar Mandir, highlighting its historical importance……”
Read the full article at Opindia.com
