Sambhal Update: Pakistan And US-Made Cartridges Found At Violence Site, Congress' Rahul Gandhi Stopped From Visiting

As Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police continue the task of evidence collection after the 24 November Sambhal violence over a court-ordered mosque survey, a Pakistan connection has now emerged in the case.

UP Police used metal detectors to find evidence around the Jama Masjid in the Kot West area, which became the stage for violence and found five fired cases and a misfire case, six cartridges in total.

Jagran reported that one of the cartridges had 'POF' written on it which means Pakistan Ordnance Factory. The second cartridge is US-made and the other cartridges are still being analysed.

Four people were killed in the violence and dozens were injured including 29 police personnel. Two Special Investigation Teams (SIT) are now probing cases of violence.

In coordination with the municipal corporation, the drains were cleaned up and a fired case POF 9mm 68-26, one FN Star case which has a mark of a striker pin and a Made-in-USA 12mm bore cartridge were found.

Sambhal Superintendent of Police (SP) K K Bishnoi said that it is not a big deal that foreign-made cartridges are being found in Sambhal as the district had been the centre of many NIA searches.

Calling it a 'sensitive matter,' Bishnoi said that None of these bores belong to the Police and hence, views of ballistic experts will be sought. Identification of the persons visible in the footage is ongoing.

Sambhal District Magistrate (DM) Rajendra Pensya said, "So far 33 people have been sent to jail and security is still in place in Sambhal and full vigilance is being maintained. More than 400 people have been identified."

Meanwhile, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were stopped from visiting the violence-hit district as Section 163 of Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) is still in force.

The DM has ordered BNS 163 (previously known as Section 144) until 10 December and hence, the police administration requested the Congress leaders to visit Sambhal from 11 December onwards.

"Currently, we have 10 companies of PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) and RAF (Rapid Action Force), which are used for daily patrolling and maintaining peace at all important places," Pensya said.