A response has been submitted in court by the ASI, seeking control and management of the Shahi Jama Masjid as it is a 'heritage structure'.

ASI seeks control of Shahi Jama Masjid after facing resistance during a survey. The mosque, a protected monument, saw violence during a recent survey.

SAMBHAL: Amid tight security, members of a judicial commission on Sunday visited the Shahi Jama Masjid here and other areas which witnessed violence over a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque.

The judicial commission appointed to probe the violence that erupted in Sambhal on November 24 visited the town on Sunday and began their probe. The district administration heightened security in the violence-hit area in view of the commission’s visit.

Massive violence broke out on Sunday when a large crowd opposed a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal. The survey was initiated based on a plea in court claiming that an ancient temple had been demolished to build the Mughal-era mosque.

Four people died after violence broke out in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal after a trial court allowed the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid following claims that it was built by destroying a Hindu temple.

The caveat has been filed through advocate Hari Shankar Jain, who had earlier filed a suit before the civil judge, Sambhal.

Violence erupted in Sambhal on November 24 during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid there, killing four people and injuring many others.