Allahabad High Court allows survey of Mathura mosque
Prayagraj (PTI): The Allahabad High Court on Thursday allowed a court-monitored survey of the Shahi Idgah premises adjoining the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple in Mathura.
The court agreed to the appointment of an advocate commissioner to oversee the survey of the mosque, which the petitioners claim holds signs suggesting that it was a Hindu temple once.
The court said the modalities of the survey will be discussed at the next hearing on December 18.
The order on the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah issue is the second temple-mosque dispute in which the high court has given its nod to a survey over the past months.
The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) recently completed a survey of the Gyanvapi mosque next to Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath temple, but has sought more time from a local court to submit its report.
According to advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, the application submitted to the high court said a lotus-shaped pillar characteristic of Hindu temples exists on the mosque premises, and an image of Hindu deity 'Sheshnag' is also present there.
It was also submitted that Hindu religious symbols and engravings are visible at the base of the pillar.
In May, the high court transferred to itself all cases related to the Mathura dispute.
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Latur teacher beats 32 students over suspicion of motorbike damage; arrested
Latur (Maharashtra) (PTI): Police have arrested a school teacher in Maharashtra's Latur district for allegedly thrashing 32 minor students, suspecting them of damaging his motorcycle, officials said.
Some pupils sustained injuries in the incident, which occurred at the private school hostel for students from classes 5 to 10 near Ahmedpur on the night of February 21, they said.
The accused, identified as Ujjwal Prakash Soni, suspected that students had damaged his motorcycle. He allegedly lost his temper and assaulted dozens of minor students with a bamboo stick, police said on Monday.
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He also allegedly threatened the children, claiming he would soon become the school principal and would then deal with them, the police said.
The principal of Christ International School, Zeba Nadar, later lodged a complaint at Ahmedpur Police Station.
The police arrested Soni after registering a case against him under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
In an official statement, Principal Nadar said the school lodged the complaint on February 22 and assured that student safety remains the institution's top priority.
"The incident is deeply unfortunate and condemnable. The school administration stands firmly with the students and will ensure their well-being," the principal said.
