Sambhal incident is BJP's conspiracy: Akhilesh Yadav in Lok Sabha

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Akhilesh said, "The Sambhal incident is a well-thought out and well-planned strategy to gun down people. The incident is a conspiracy by the BJP to disturb the brotherhood and unity in the country."

Besides accusing the court of passing the survey order one-sidedly, the SP chief said, "Police and administrative officials are responsible for disturbing the peace in Sambhal. They should be suspended and murder cases should be initiated against them so that people get justice and no such anti-Constitutional and illegal incident happens."

Tension prevailed in the town since last month after a local court ordered a survey of the Mughal-era Jama Masjid.

The order was passed after a plea claiming a Harihar temple existed at the site until Babar demolished it.

The first round of the survey was conducted in the previous week. The violence broke out during the second round on Sunday. 

When the survey team reached the site, a mob started shouting slogans and soon the scenario escalated to clash and violence forcing the cops to use force to take control of the situation.

Thirty-six cops were injured after a mob pelted stones at the survey team and police personnel in the western Uttar Pradesh town.

Several vehicles were torched.

The Supreme Court last Friday paused the trial court's order permitting a survey of the mosque, stressing on the importance of maintenance of "peace and harmony".

Besides, it has asked the management committee of the Shahi Idgah Masjid to approach the high court against the trial court order.