After the allegations of the mosque management committee that the survey conducted in Sambhal's Shahi Jama Masjid last sunday was not done on the court's order, on wednesday the lawyer of the Hindu side said that the second survey was done on the order of the 'Advocate Commissioner' and it was not a decision taken in haste. Hindu side's lawyer Gopal Sharma said, 'The second survey was not a hasty decision. This survey was ordered by the Advocate Commissioner.' He said, 'I was present there the day the riot took place. I think this (violence) was pre-planned. At that time, three advocates, people of the mosque committee and the Imam were also present in the said mosque from the other side (Muslim side) and they also appealed for peace.'
Sharma said, 'They (rioters) threw stones at us too. The police chased them away but they were continuously throwing bricks and stones at the police. They were the ones who fired at the police. Many policemen were hit by pellets. The rioters had covered their faces.' He said, 'Now on november 29, the Advocate Commissioner will submit the survey report to the court. Both the parties will be present.'
On the allegation of the administration forcibly emptying the water of the washroom, Sharma said, 'The tank is emptied every week. If the tank was not emptied, how could its videography and photography have been done?' He said, 'The Hindu side also used to go to the so-called (Jama) Masjid for worship till 1978. After the riots in 1978, the Hindu side stopped going there.'
Sharma said, 'There is also an ASI (Archaeological survey of India) board here. This is an area protected by the ASI. The ASI also conducts a survey here twice every year. When this is an ASI protected area, it is not appropriate to offer namaz here.' Samajwadi party MLA Iqbal Mahmood told reporters on wednesday that he has no objection to the 'Advocate Commissioner', it is the court's right. His son Sohail Mahmood's name is also in the FIR registered in connection with the violence.
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