The northern Indian city of Sambhal is under heightened alert after violent clashes over a centuries-old mosque left four people dead and dozens injured on Sunday.

The unrest erupted during a court-mandated survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, a 16th-century federally protected monument. Protesters clashed with police near the mosque, sparking chaos in the area. Authorities in Uttar Pradesh, where Sambhal is located, have suspended internet services, closed schools for a day, and filed four cases in connection with the violence.

The local court had ordered the survey last week following a petition claiming that the mosque was built on the site of a demolished temple. Videos shared on social media show debris, including bricks and stones, scattered around the mosque. Protesters allege that four men were killed in police firing, but officials have denied this.

“No weapons capable of causing fatalities were used,” stated Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar, as quoted by The Hindu newspaper.

The dispute over the Shahi Jama Masjid is part of a broader trend in India, where Hindu groups have claimed that Mughal-era rulers destroyed temples to construct mosques. Similar cases are being contested in courts across the country.

Tensions in Sambhal escalated after a local court ordered a video-recorded survey of the mosque, citing the claim that Mughal ruler Babur destroyed the Hari Har temple in the 1520s to build the structure. Muslim groups in the area protested the survey, arguing they were not given prior notice and questioning the urgency of the court’s directive.

On Sunday, the situation turned violent as a second survey was conducted. A large group of protesters reportedly gathered near the mosque, chanting slogans and confronting the survey team. According to police, stones were thrown at officers, prompting them to use force to protect the team. Tear gas and plastic bullets were used to disperse the crowd, said senior police official Aunjaneya Kumar Singh.

Opposition leaders have criticized the state government, accusing it of using the dispute to further political interests. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led administration has rejected the allegations, stating that law and order will be strictly maintained.

“No one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands,” Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak told The Indian Express, adding that authorities are investigating the incident.

Mahmood Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, a prominent organization of Islamic scholars, condemned the growing number of disputes involving mosques, stating that they undermine Indian law.