Weeks after four people died in a violence over a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in this Uttar Pradesh district, the administration has launched a campaign to tackle encroachments and power theft in areas around the Mughal-era mosque.
The comprehensive drive aims to revitalise the area and crack down on illegal power connections, district officials said on Saturday.
District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya confirmed that the administration was taking steps to address encroachments around the historical mosque.
Violence erupted during the November 24 survey as protesters gathered near the mosque and clashed with security personnel, leading to stone pelting and arson. Four people died and several others were injured in the clashes. The police have denied allegations that it fired at the protesters.
“We are marking the area as it is in the documents and ensuring it is cleaned up. There is a well nearby, which we are in the process of reviving,” Pensiya said.
Encroachments along drains, particularly in areas around the mosque, have been an ongoing concern. The district administration launched a dedicated encroachment removal campaign in the Chandausi city on Friday and is expanding it to other parts of Sambhal.
This story was originally published in business-standard.com. Read the full story here.
