The Sambhal riots of March 29, 1978, which claimed the lives of around 200 Hindus, are set to be revisited as Moradabad Commissioner Anjaneya Singh has demanded the records related to the case. The riots, which devastated Hindu families in the region, led to a significant demographic shift and left lasting scars on the community.
Routine Review or Political Context?
Commissioner Singh stated that the move to reopen old files is part of a routine divisional review of pending and unresolved cases. However, the decision comes shortly after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s recent remarks in the state assembly, highlighting the massacre and its aftermath. CM Yogi’s statement has added a political undertone to the review, drawing attention to the neglect of justice for the victims over the past 46 years.
A Tragic Night and Its Aftermath
On March 29, 1978, violence erupted in Sambhal, leading to widespread killings and arson. Official records cite 184 deaths, though some accounts suggest the toll was closer to 200. Following the riots, Hindu families, particularly from the Deepa Sarai area, fled their homes, altering the demographic composition of Sambhal permanently.
At the time of independence, Hindus constituted more than half of Sambhal’s population. Today, they make up a mere 15 per cent, marking a dramatic demographic decline. Many Hindu families, particularly 40 Rastogi households, abandoned their properties and temples, leaving them locked for decades.
CM Yogi’s Remarks in Assembly
CM Yogi, during a recent assembly session, stated that 209 Hindus were massacred in Sambhal riots since 1947, calling out the silence surrounding the 1978 violence. He mentioned that the riots, instigated by false rumours, led to mass killings, arson, and the forced migration of Hindu families.
After nearly five decades of neglect, the temple in Deepa Sarai, left abandoned due to the migration, has finally been reopened through the efforts of the local administration and community.
The Role of the Muslim League
The root cause of the riots is traced back to the political ambitions of Muslim League leader Manzar Shafi. Shafi, who had lost the 1977 elections, allegedly orchestrated unrest to regain political traction.
The riots were sparked when Shafi visited the local SDM’s office on March 29, 1978. When his demands were not met, Shafi attempted to close down the local market, facing resistance from both police and Hindu shopkeepers. As chaos ensued, a crowd of his supporters clashed with the police, and rumors of Shafi’s death spread rapidly. This incited large-scale violence, particularly targeting Hindus in Deepa Sarai.
Why Justice Was Never Delivered
The 1978 riots resulted in 169 FIRs, including three filed by the police. Yet, no convictions have been made to date, leaving the victims and their families without justice. The reasons for this failure are now under scrutiny, with officials in Sambhal and Moradabad reviewing records to identify lapses in the investigation and judicial processes.
A Turning Point for Sambhal
The reopening of the Sambhal riots files comes at a time when the state is actively revisiting unresolved communal violence cases. The tragedy of 1978 stands as a grim reminder of the communal tensions and political manipulations that altered the city’s social fabric.
As the administration revisits the case, it remains to be seen whether justice will finally be served, or if this will merely be another chapter in the long history of unresolved communal violence in India.
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