Moradabad Commissioner Anjaneya Singh announced on Monday that a magisterial investigation will be conducted into the Sambhal violence. The commissioner assured that conditions in Sambhal are under control, with businesses operating normally in all areas except where the violence occurred. He emphasized that stringent actions will be taken against the rioters and that the NSA will be applied.
Meanwhile, following the violent outbreak during the Jama Masjid survey on the morning of November 24, an FIR was registered against 800 individuals, including SP MP Ziaur Rahman Barq and MLA Iqbal Mahmood's son Suhail Iqbal, by station in-charge Deepak Rathi. They are alleged to have incited the mob. Sambhal's Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar confirmed that Sub-Inspector Deepak Rathi was injured in the stone-pelting and violence.
On this incident, a total of 7 FIRs have been filed, with 5 cases in Sambhal Kotwali and 2 in Nakhasi Police Station. During the morning violence on November 24, the mob seized Sub-Inspector Shah Faisal's pistol and magazine. Six named and 200 unidentified individuals have been charged by him. SDM Ramesh Babu suffered a fracture in his leg and has filed charges against 800 people.
CO Sambhal Anuj Choudhary, who was part of the survey team, tried to contain the mob and was shot in the leg. He filed charges against 700-800 people. Ekta Chowki in-charge Sanjeev Kumar reported a case of looting a magazine and tear gas. When reports of stone-throwing at another site reached, the SSP PRO, who headed to the scene, was also fired upon; he too was shot in the leg.
A Close Look at the Events
A total of 25 people, including 22 from Sambhal Kotwali and 3 from Nakhasi Police Station, have been arrested and jailed. Drone camera footage is being analyzed, and small photos of the rioters are being created. So far, 7 FIRs have been filed against 2750 unidentified and some named individuals in the Sambhal violence case. There have been confirmations of 4 deaths in this violence, with 24 policemen, including 4 senior officers, injured.
Sambhal Jama Masjid's Head in Custody
Zafar Ali, the president of Sambhal's Royal Jama Masjid, has been taken into custody by police. On Monday morning, Zafar held a press conference accusing the police and SDM of responsibility for the violence. He stated that he appealed for peace but claimed that local guns were used by the police. Zafar Ali asserts that during the survey, the SDM insisted on draining water from the mosque's ablution area, leading to misinformation spreading outside, eventually gathering the crowd.
