TENSION PREVAILED at a village in Sambhal on Monday after members of the Muslim community allegedly stopped the construction of a temple and demolished a boundary wall in Hayat Nagar area.

As the group claimed that construction work was being undertaken without taking due permission from the administration, members from both the Hindu and Muslim communities gathered at the spot and entered into a verbal duel.

Sambhal ASP Kamlesh Kumar Dixit claimed that timely intervention by the police prevented a clash. The members of the Hindu community have been asked to obtain due permission from the administration before starting construction again, he said. “But the other group should have sought the help of the police to stop the construction work… They should not have caused a law and order problem,” he added.

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The ASP said a case has been registered against 20 people from both the communities, along with some unidentified persons, under sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot — if rioting be committed — if not committed) and 147 (rioting) of the IPC. No arrests have been made in the case so far.

Hayatnagar police Station House Officer Brijesh Kumar said the incident took place in the afternoon, when some Muslim members reached the site where a temple was being built on ‘gram samaj’ land. “They allegedly beat up the labourers and stopped construction work forcibly. A few of them even allegedly demolished the boundary wall at the site,” he added.

Meanwhile, members of the Hindu community arrived at the spot.

“Both sides entered into a heated argument. When the police reached the village, which has a mixed population, locals from nearby villages had also started gathering at the spot… Both groups were pacified, and the construction work was stopped till the administration takes a decision,” the SHO said, adding that the foundation stone of the temple was laid around five years ago.

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