The violence that erupted in Sambhal on November 24, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to several others, have now become the focal point of political controversy. The Sambhal Police have named Samajwadi Party (SP) Member of Parliament Ziaur Rahman Barq as the central figure behind the violence. The police claim that Barq played a significant role in inciting a mob, orchestrating the violence, and disturbing communal harmony for political leverage. According to an FIR filed by the police, Barq is accused of provoking the crowd during an ongoing dispute over a court-ordered survey at the Shahi Jama Masjid, a mosque situated in the region.
The violence erupted amid growing tensions over the mosque’s historical origins, specifically regarding allegations that it had been built over an ancient temple. The dispute reached a boiling point when a court-appointed team arrived on Sunday to conduct a survey at the Shahi Jama Masjid, following claims that the mosque had been constructed by demolishing a Hindu temple during the rule of Mughal Emperor Babur in the 16th century.
The survey was ordered after a complaint was filed, demanding an investigation into the alleged destruction of the temple to make way for the mosque. Protesters, many of them local residents, vehemently opposed the survey, claiming that it was an attempt to erase their historical and cultural heritage. This opposition turned violent, leading to clashes with the police and widespread unrest. The violence ultimately led to the deaths of four protesters and injuries to many others.
According to the FIR, Barq, who represents Sambhal in the Lok Sabha, is said to have played a pivotal role in the violence. The FIR alleges that on November 22, just days before the eruption of violence, Barq visited the Shahi Jama Masjid without seeking prior administrative permission. After offering namaz (Islamic prayers), Barq is accused of gathering a large crowd and making inflammatory statements. The police claim that Barq incited the crowd by stoking communal tensions for political gain.
The FIR describes how Barq’s words were provocative, stirring the crowd and increasing their aggression. The MP, according to the police, made statements designed to agitate the masses and encourage them to resist the survey, thus disturbing the region’s communal harmony. The police have argued that this was part of a broader political strategy to capitalise on the situation for personal gain.
A significant part of the FIR focuses on the role of Suhail Iqbal, the son of local MLA Iqbal Mahmood. The police allege that Iqbal, who was present with Barq at the mosque, further incited the crowd. He reportedly told the mob, “Ziaur Rahman Barq is with us, we are also with you. We will not let anything happen to you; fulfill your intentions.” This statement, according to the FIR, further aggravated the situation, leading to increased violence and resistance to the survey.
The crowd, now swelling to around 700–800 people, turned increasingly hostile and violent. The mob, armed with deadly weapons such as stones, sticks, and even firearms, confronted the police, who were attempting to maintain order and carry out the survey. The violence escalated rapidly, with the police being attacked and their weapons snatched.
The police account paints a chaotic and dangerous scene. As per the FIR, the mob, emboldened by the inflammatory rhetoric, gathered near the Shahi Jama Masjid and began to block the court-ordered survey. The situation grew even more volatile as the crowd clashed with police officers and reportedly fired at them. One of the protesters allegedly shot at Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhary, wounding him in the leg. The police assert that the mob was armed and intent on preventing the survey by any means necessary.
In addition to the gunfire, the FIR describes how the mob destroyed surveillance equipment, including CCTV cameras, and looted police firearms, including pistols and 9mm magazines. According to the police, the attackers used hockey sticks and batons to target officers, some of whom were severely injured in the attack. The mob even set fire to police equipment and continued to assault the officers with stones and other makeshift weapons.
One of the key elements of the FIR is the claim that the mob had the intent to kill the police officers. The police allege that the protesters were armed and ready to escalate the violence to prevent the survey from being completed. The FIR suggests that the attackers were not only violent but had a clear motive to disrupt the law-enforcement process and destabilise the region’s communal peace.
As a result of the violence, four individuals were killed, and numerous others were injured, though the circumstances of their deaths remain disputed. Protesters claim that the deaths were a result of police firing, while the police maintain that the mob itself fired on the officers, forcing them to act in self-defense.
In response to the incident, the Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a magisterial enquiry to investigate the events that led to the violence. Seven FIRs have been filed in connection with the case, with Barq listed as Accused No. 1 and Iqbal as Accused No. 2. Six other individuals, along with several unidentified persons, have also been named in the reports. The police have vowed to take strict action against those responsible for the violence, although tensions remain high in the region.
The incident has drawn widespread attention to the ongoing communal disputes surrounding the Shahi Jama Masjid. The mosque’s management and local political leaders argue that the violence was a result of the survey being conducted without prior notice. However, the police and the complainants assert that the mosque had been duly served with a notice about the survey.
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