Seven individuals were apprehended on Tuesday as part of the investigation into the violence that erupted in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, on November 24. This brings the total number of arrests to 47, with authorities identifying 91 suspects. The unfortunate incident resulted in the death of four individuals.
Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shirish Chandra reported that those arrested on Tuesday have been identified as Shoaib, Sujauddin, Rahat, Mohammad Azam, Azharuddin, Javed, and Mustafa. Efforts to locate other suspects are ongoing, with several teams mobilized to bring them to justice.
Eleven First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed in connection to this violence. Since November 19, tensions have been simmering in Sambhal, following a court-mandated survey at the local Shahi Jama Masjid, which purportedly claimed the presence of a Harihar Temple there.
The violence intensified on November 24 when a repeat survey of the mosque was initiated, leading to stone-pelting incidents in Pakkabagh Hindu Pura Kheda. Motorcycles belonging to law enforcement were set ablaze, and police pistol magazines and cartridges were stolen, subsequently prompting a case to be filed at the Nakhasha police station.
The primary instigator, as cited by the police, has been identified as Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Zia Ur Rahman Barq. An FIR against him has been registered, and he has approached the Allahabad High Court seeking its annulment. A hearing on his petition is slated for January 2, where he also seeks a stay on his arrest.
Sources suggest that the Sambhal police are likely to oppose his plea and intend to present evidence of his involvement. The police hold that his incendiary speech was a catalyst for the violence.
Meanwhile, Zia Ur Rahman Barq, in his High Court petition, has reiterated his position as an educated parliamentarian and contested the charges of incitement. He argues that the FIR against him is a political ploy, claiming he was not in Uttar Pradesh at the time of the incident but in Bengaluru.
Adding to his legal woes, SP legislator Zia Ur Rahman Barq faces allegations of electricity theft. A fine of Rs. 1.91 crore has been imposed by the power department. An FIR related to this was also lodged following an investigation by a power department team, which found discrepancies and replaced two tampered electricity meters at his residence with new smart meters.
