Gyanvapi case: ASI survey begins amid heavy security, report by August 4
- In Reports
- 10:30 AM, Jul 24, 2023
- Myind Staff
Amid heavy police deployment, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team reached the Gyanvapi Mosque and began scientific surveying the mosque complex, adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. A 30-member team of ASI experts arrived at the Gyanvapi mosque on the morning of July 24.
The survey also coincides with today's Supreme Court hearing on a petition filed by the mosque management committee challenging the Allahabad High Court’s decision, which upheld the right of five Hindu women to worship inside the Gyanvapi mosque.
In a video shared by the news agency ANI, a UP Police team can be seen entering the Gyanvapi mosque complex as the ASI survey began.
There are around 30 members, including ASI officials, four Hindu women plaintiff and their counsels, and councils for the Gyanvapi mosque management committee.
The Varanasi District Magistrate and the Commissioner of Police Ashok Mutha Jain held a meeting with the Hindu plaintiffs, their counsel, including Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, Sudhir Tripathi, and defendants Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee joint secretary S.M. Yasin and their counsel.
Advocate Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi representing the Hindu side said that the result of the survey will be favorable to Hindus.
"A team of 30 ASI members along with the Hindu and Muslim sides are present inside the Gyanvapi mosque complex. We're sure that the whole premise is of the temple only," says Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, one of the advocates representing the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi case.
While speaking to reporters, Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, "We are sure that the whole premise is of the temple only. The result of the survey will be favourable to us."
The Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee is not participating in the survey. The committee's joint secretary SM Yasin said, “We have boycotted the ASI survey. Neither we nor our advocate are present there (in the Gyanvapi mosque) during the ASI survey. We are not participating in it."
The Varanasi court order sought a report from ASI up to August 4 when the matter will be taken up next. The court, however, ordered excluding the section which has remained sealed since the Supreme Court order in May 2022.
The area under the seal is where Hindus insist a Shivling has been found, while Muslims claim it is part of a fountain.
The ASI team is set to employ state-of-the-art methods and technology for the survey. Their initial focus will be on inspecting the western wall, followed by an examination of the structure's dome. Videography of the mosque has already commenced.
Image source: Reuters
Comments