The police have arrested Waris, a resident of Khaggu Sarai, in connection with the fatal violence that erupted during the survey of disputed Jama Masjid on November 24, 2024. Waris, an active member of the notorious Shariq Sata gang, is accused of firing the bullets that led to the deaths of two youths, Kaif and Naeem, during the chaotic riots. The arrest has unveiled shocking details of a larger conspiracy orchestrated by the Shariq Sata gang, whose members had planned to target advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain — a key figure in the Shahi Jama Masjid-Harihar Mandir dispute — in an effort to trigger violent unrest across the country.
Police investigations revealed that Waris, under the instructions of Shariq Sata, fired the fatal shots during the survey riot. The gang’s objective was not only to incite mayhem but to murder Vishnu Shankar Jain, who had allegedly made derogatory remarks about the Prophet. The rioters were directed to target Jain during the survey, using his death as a spark to ignite nationwide violence. Waris, in police interrogation, confessed that the group’s ultimate aim was to further fuel sectarian tensions by killing Jain, with the hope of inciting widespread riots.
The investigation has also uncovered key details about the involvement of other gang members, including Mulla Afroz, who provided the weapons used in the violence. Afroz, a member of the Shariq Sata gang, was arrested on January 19, 2025, and police recovered a 32-bore pistol and 15 blank cartridges from him. Police also seized a pistol and cartridges from Waris upon his arrest. The weapons were reportedly distributed among the rioters to carry out the planned murders and mayhem during the survey, all in the name of ‘defending the mosque.’
Waris’s confession during his police interrogation revealed the chilling extent of the gang’s plan. He admitted that after receiving information about the survey on the night of November 23, he was given a pistol and cartridges by Mulla Afroz. The rioters were instructed to blend in with the crowd, wait for the moment when police used tear gas, and then open fire. The aim was to escalate the violence and provoke both the public and law enforcement into retaliation.
In a crucial development, police discovered a viral audio recording found on Waris’s mobile phone. In the audio, Waris is heard instructing his partner to bring “the goods” — a code word for firearms. This recording has been pivotal in linking Waris to the broader conspiracy, confirming that the violence was premeditated and part of a larger strategy to stoke communal tensions.
After the riots, Waris fled to Delhi and hid there for two months to avoid arrest. However, his return to his hometown was marked by his eventual capture on January 25, 2025. Police have also arrested Mohammad Nihal, another individual involved in the violence, as the investigation continues.
The Shariq Sata gang, based in Dubai, has been identified as a central player in orchestrating these riots, with their ultimate goal being to provoke widespread violence across India. According to SP Krishna Kumar Vishnoi, the gang’s operations go beyond local disturbances, seeking to achieve political and religious goals through violent means. The police’s quick response in arresting key members of the gang, including Waris and Afroz, has led to the resolution of four murders committed during the violence, with two deaths attributed to each of the accused.
Vishnu Shankar Jain is a prominent advocate and a key figure in several high-profile legal cases related to religious and cultural disputes in India. He made the headlines for representing the Hindu side in the Shahi Jama Masjid-Harihar Mandir dispute, a contentious issue involving the ownership and religious significance of the Jama Masjid.
