Varanasi: In this December 12, 2021 file photo, a view of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Dham and the Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi.
Highlight
- Videography survey of Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi resumed on Saturday.
- It ended peacefully amid tight security arrangements.
- Officials said that the survey work will continue tomorrow as well.
Gyanvapi Masjid Complex: Videography survey of Gyanvapi Masjid complex in Varanasi resumed without interruption on Saturday following a local court order as all parties cooperated. Officials said that the survey work will continue tomorrow as well. The survey was put on hold last week amid objections from the mosque committee, which claimed that the court-appointed advocate commissioner for the survey did not have the authority to film inside the premises. As per reports, several pillared stones, idols and urns were recovered in the survey today. Today, 4 basements were surveyed and many more are yet to be opened.
“The survey work went on peacefully. There was no objection from anyone. Everything is normal and friendly, and all parties cooperated,” Varanasi Police Commissioner A Satish Ganesh told news agency PTI. “Today’s survey is over, and it will continue tomorrow,” he said.
tight security arrangements
The videography of Gyanvapi Masjid complex was done today amid tight security arrangements. Varanasi District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said that about 50 percent work of the survey has been done. “The survey will continue on Sunday as well. It lasted from 8 am to 12 noon. The police commissioner of Varanasi and a trustee of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust were also present during the survey,” Sharma said.
“More than 50 per cent of the sites have been surveyed. The survey work is confidential, and is done under court supervision. Therefore, information about the places where the survey was conducted and what was found is no longer shared. Can go,” he added.
Survey to resume tomorrow
All parties are satisfied with today’s survey and it will resume on Sunday. All the parties, their lawyers, court commissioners and videographers were present during the survey. The mosque is located close to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple and the local court is hearing a plea by a group of women seeking permission for daily prayers in front of the idols on its outer walls.
Sharma had earlier said that an important meeting was held with all concerned on Friday and appealed to them to cooperate in the work of the commission and in maintaining law and order.
More than 1,500 policemen and PAC personnel have been deployed as part of the security arrangements.
(With inputs from journalist Bhaskar, Pawan Nara)
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