Sambhal Violence Update: UP Police Calls Out Provocation By Mosque Committee Chief, Samajwadi MP's 'Jama Masjid Ki Hifazat' Slogan

The situation is peaceful in Sambhal and moving towards normalcy after a mob of thousands of people started pelting stones on Sunday (24 November) when a court-ordered survey team arrived to inspect the Jama Masjid.

In the firing among groups that followed, four people died. Police have denied the use of firearms and said they only used tear gas and pellet guns to control the situation. The deceased were identified as Naeem, Bilal, Numan and Ayan.

Seven First Information Reports (FIR) have been registered so far against 15 identified people including Samajwadi Party (SP) member of Parliament (MP) Zia Ur Rehman Barq and around 1,000 unknown accused.

While Singh said that there is evidence against MP Barq that he has committed provocative acts and action has been taken against him as under the provisions of the BNS, the Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar elaborated that Barq's "Jama Masjid ki hifazat" (protection of Jama Masjid) remark mobilised the mob.

Regarding the MP being in Bengaluru and not Sambhal on the day of the violence, as claimed by SP national president Akhilesh Yadav, Kumar stated that Barq's name was included in the FIR due to his prior statements.

On Monday, Zafar Ali was called in for questioning by police as during his press conference, he made statements that were different from the facts, which could be provocative at a time when peace is returning, Moradabad Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said.

Zafar Ali is the chief of Mosque Sadar and Shahi Mosque Committee. In his press conference, he had blamed the Uttar Pradesh administration for creating the confusion that excavation had started in the mosque.

Ali also alleged that Circle Officer started hurling abuses and ordered a lathi-charge when people questioned what was happening. He accused the police of firing bullets on people while claiming no firing from the public.

Responding to this, Commissioner Singh said that Ali has no proof of what he said. "The survey happened on court commissioner's order and its copy was given to him (Ali) and the time was decided by keeping him in loop," he added.

Singh said that everything was videographed so even of something objectionable happened, Ali should have proof. He emphasised that the survey included only photography and videography which could not have harmed the structure.

The Commissioner asserted that if Ali found something objectionable, he could have objected or made a video of it as proof. "He has no evidence to support his claims. A responsible person would try to pacify the situation instead of instigating it further," he added.

Singh appealed to the people to not get misled by "such" people and reiterated there was no reason for the mob to be outraged. He assured that no decision is going to be taken immediately and urged people to take legal recourse.

The District Magistrate (DM) of Sambhal, Dr Rajender Pensiya also refuted Ali's statement that the police used country-made pistols. He highlighted Ali's contradictory statements on the emptying of Wuzu tank water.

Pensiya also clarified that the second survey was not ordered by him but by the court. The copy of the Advocate Commissioner order was received and signed by Ali on 23 November after 6:15 pm, the DM added.

"Zafar sahib said he saw the Police firing. I want to ask him if he was busy getting the survey done or seeing the firing. Because the survey was conducted between 1030-1045 hours. While all this happened between 1000-1100 hours," he added.

The police have approached the families of victims who died and urged them to register their complaints. An FIR is also registered against SP local MLA Iqbal Mehmood's son Sohail Iqbal.