The Imam of Sambhal Jama Masjid, Zafar Ali, on Monday accused the local administration of instigating the violence. However, District Magistrate Rajendra Pensia refuted these allegations during a press conference, describing his statement as misleading. He clarified that Zafar Ali was neither detained nor arrested.
The DM of Sambhal stated, 'Zafar Ali is spreading false information about police firing. Although four deaths occurred from gunfire, it is unclear who fired the shots. The police did not open fire. Zafar claimed there was no stone-pelting by the crowd, which is also misleading. At 10:30 AM, when the stone-pelting began, we gave Zafar Ali a helmet and asked him to calm the gathering. However, when the crowd attacked him, he fled the scene amid provocative slogans.'
Regarding a viral video of religious chants near the survey team, the DM said, 'There were no chants when the survey team arrived at the mosque. The chanting commenced after the team left the site post-survey. Zafar Ali's claim of being uninformed about the survey is false. The court's order arrived at 2:38 PM on November 24, and both SDM and CO personally delivered the copy to Zafar Ali at Jama Masjid from 5 to 5:30 PM the same day, as evidenced by his signature on the court order copy provided by the Advocate Commissioner.'
DM Pensia added, 'Zafar Ali's accusations against SDM Sambhal regarding the water tank drainage for survey purposes are unfounded. The tank was emptied solely for photography and refilled shortly after. Attempts to obstruct the survey were frequent, yet all parties were notified in advance. Zafar Ali's claims of witnessing police firing are contradictory. Was he focused on the survey or observing gunfire? The survey proceeded from 10:30 to 10:45 AM, while the stone-pelting and violence transpired between 10 and 11 AM.'
What Accusations Did Zafar Ali Make?
It is noteworthy that on Monday, Zafar Ali, head of Sambhal Jama Masjid, told the media that the local administration was responsible for the violence. He alleged, 'This situation arose from the administration's insistence on draining water from the Wudu tank. SDM Sambhal was adamant about emptying the water. As the SP and DM advocated measurements using sticks, people assumed excavation activities were underway inside the mosque without prior notice.'
Zafar Ali accused, 'We appealed for calm from the mosque. This turmoil resulted from actions by SDM and CO Sambhal. When questioned about the ongoing activities inside, they resorted to abusive language and ordered a baton charge. They even warned that anyone asking questions would be shot. The reckless atmosphere intensified under the SDM and CO's directives... The crowd lost control, suspecting excavation without clarity.'
