Sambhal Violence Was Pre-Planned Conspiracy: Judicial Panel
Commission names key individuals, says misinformation fuelled unrest during Shahi Jama Masjid survey
- Judicial commission concludes Sambhal violence was a pre-planned conspiracy.
- Report names MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and Suhel Iqbal among key individuals.
- Panel says misinformation over mosque survey triggered unrest.
- Commission recommends strict legal action and adherence to court orders.
GG News Bureau
Lucknow, 6th Aug: A judicial commission probing the Sambhal violence in Uttar Pradesh has concluded that the clashes were the result of a pre-planned conspiracy, identifying the alleged involvement of several individuals, including Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and Suhel Iqbal, son of MLA Iqbal Mahmood.
The commission’s report was tabled in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday. Reacting to its findings, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said the report would expose how violence was orchestrated under the guise of riots and alleged that previous governments had protected those responsible.
The violence erupted on November 24, 2024, during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal after a petition claimed the presence of a Hindu temple beneath the Mughal-era mosque. The incident left four people dead, several others injured and 28 police personnel hurt, including seven who sustained gunshot injuries. Rioters also allegedly attempted to loot police weapons and equipment.
Following the unrest, the Uttar Pradesh Government constituted a three-member judicial commission headed by retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice Devendra Kumar Arora, with retired IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad and retired IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain as members.
The commission investigated whether the violence was spontaneous or premeditated, the circumstances leading to the clashes and measures needed to prevent similar incidents. During the probe, investigators recovered Pakistan-made bullets from the site, adding a new dimension to the inquiry.
According to the commission, misinformation regarding the mosque survey was deliberately spread within the Muslim community, contributing to the violence. The report also stated that the bullets responsible for the four deaths did not originate from police weapons.
In its 450-page report submitted to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath last year, the commission flagged a significant demographic shift in Sambhal, alleged a conspiracy to target Hindus and pointed to the involvement of radical groups and outsiders in the unrest. It also described the actions of the district administration and police as effective and restrained during the incident.
The commission recommended strict adherence to court orders and the rule of law to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Reacting to the findings, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Manan Kumar Mishra called for the strictest possible legal action against those found responsible. He alleged that the accused had attempted to create an atmosphere of unrest and division, describing the incident as a grave crime against the nation.
