Even though the Allahabad High Court has stayed the trial of the Jama Masjid survey, the district authorities have ordered the removal of all encroachments in and around the six protected monuments in the district.

Jama Masjid is one of the six protected monuments which come under the ambit of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

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An ASI team inspected the Mughal-era fort in Saundhan village on Thursday. The team carried out measurements in accordance with its map. During the exercise, the team identified several instances of encroachment, which need to be removed. Instructions have been given to the villagers in this regard.

District Magistrate Dr Rajendra Pansia stated that a total of six protected monuments are located in the district. He added that the ASI will inspect all the monuments for the removal of encroachments.

The six ASI-protected monuments in the district include the Jama Masjid, Firozpur Fort, Saundhan Fort, Chandeshwar Tirth, Berani Temple, and the Gumthal Memorial.

The DM said the encroachments around the monuments are evident and would be removed after the ASI submits its report. He added that the ASI team will inspect other monuments soon.

The Saundhan Fort was built during the era of Mughal emperor Shahjahan in 1645 AD.

It is said that Rustam Khan Dakhni, the governor of Sambhal and Moradabad during the reign of Shahjahan, built this fort in Saundhan in Sambhal district. This fort stands as one of the architectural beauties of that era.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the investigation into the 1978 riots in Sambhal may be reopened. Following a question raised in the Legislative Council during the recent winter session, the Home Department, on the instructions of the SP Human Rights, has called for a report from the Sambhal district administration.

On the orders of the Home Department, the Sambhal district administration and police will collect facts related to this case and submit a report, after which the state government may order a re-investigation of the riots.

During the winter session of the State Legislature, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also referred to the riots that occurred in Sambhal 46 years ago. BJP member in the Legislative Council, Shrish Chandra Sharma, raised a question regarding the incident, highlighting that the families of those affected had not received justice after hundreds of Hindus were killed in the riots.

CM Yogi had stated in the Assembly that since 1947, 209 Hindus lost their lives due to riots in Sambhal. He pointed out that while many Hindus were killed in the Sambhal riots on March 29, 1978, no one had been held accountable for the incident even after a lapse of 46 years.