Gyanvapi case: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Thursday morning resumed the survey of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi on the seveth day. According to the sources, the ASI team is investigating in the Tahkhana of mosque complex today. On Wednesday, ASI used GPR technology for survey. GPR is a strong, non-intrusive, and non-destructive strategy used in imaging underground designs and sub-surface planning.
The ASI survey began a day after a Varanasi court barred media from covering the ongoing ASI survey of the Gyanvapi complex from the spot. The court also directed members of the survey team to not give comments to any media outlet.
ASI survey proceeding smoothly
Shubhash Nandan Chaturvedi (Advocate Hindu Side) said that the ASI survey is proceeding smoothly and in a systematic way. "Both Hindu and Muslim sides are cooperating & abiding by the court's order," he added.
ASI survey
The Archeological Study of India (ASI) team surveyed the northern wall, dome, and basements of the Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi on Tuesday, the fourth day of the court-ordered exercise to decide whether the mosque was built over a sanctuary. Individuals from the Muslim side were additionally present during the survey.
The ASI group completed work on measurement, mapping, and photography of the Gyanvapi complex, government counsel Rajesh Mishra said. The group partitioned itself into three groups and studied the northern wall, the dome, and the basements of the complex, he said.
Vishnu Shankar Jain, the Hindu side's lawyer, said a detailed scientific study is being finished inside the premises as indicated by the court order. Subhash Chaturvedi, one more lawyer of the Hindu side, said the ASI group is gathering proof; furthermore, the dome and pavilion of the complex, and the basements were surveyed.
On the first day of the ASI study, the Muslim side boycotted the exercise. The mosque's 'wazu khana', where a structure guaranteed by Hindu litigants to be a 'shivling' exists, won't be essential for the study - - following a prior Supreme Court order safeguarding that spot in the complex.
Varanasi court ordered ASI survey of Gyanvapi in July
Earlier in July, a Varanasi court had directed the ASI to conduct a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple here. The order was upheld by the Allahabad Hight Court. The survey of the mosque complex began on August 4 following court orders.
Syed Mohammad Yasin, joint secretary of Anjuman Intezamia Masjid that manages the mosque, said the ASI survey is being done on the orders of the court. "No statement has been given so far by the survey team or any of its officials, but newspapers and news channels and on social media misleading news is being run continuously," he claimed.
Yasin said that this will have a "wrong effect" on the people's mind and such news items should be stopped from being published. "We gave an application in the court of District Judge A K Vishvesh on Tuesday, which is expected to be heard on Wednesday," he said earlier in the day.
Amid the ongoing survey at the mosque complex, Yasin had on Sunday said baseless things were being spread, and if they were not stopped, then the Muslim side could boycott the survey.
Yasin had alleged that during the survey on Saturday, a section of the media spread rumours that idols, tridents and urns were found in the basement of the mosque, hurting the sentiments of the Muslim community.
(With agencies input)
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