The Allahabad High Court has granted bail to Zafar Ali, a prominent lawyer, president of Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid, and community leader who was arrested for speaking out against police violence in Sambhal in November 2024, which claimed at least five Muslim lives.
The bail was granted by a single bench of Justice Sameer Jain. Zafar Ali is currently lodged in Moradabad jail.
He was arrested on 23 March this year by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Uttar Pradesh Police in connection with the 2024 protests against the mosque survey and the police violence that followed.
Ali was booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including Sections 191(2), 191(3), 190, 221, 132, 125, 324(5), 196, 223(b), and 326(F). He was also charged under Section 3 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (Indian Evidence Act), 2023, and Section 5 of the Sarvajanik Sampatti Nuksan Nivaran Adhiniyam (Public Property Damage Prevention Act), 1984.
Police claimed that he was involved in violence following a court-ordered survey of the mosque. Locals, however, say he was targeted for raising his voice against the police killings.
On 24 November 2024, the town of Sambhal witnessed intense violence when an ASI team arrived to survey the historic Shahi Jama Masjid, accompanied by a Hindutva mob chanting “Jai Shri Ram.” As local Muslims gathered outside the mosque and tensions escalated, police opened fire on the crowd. At least five Muslim men were killed.
Residents allege that police cases were used to target protesters and Muslim residents. According to the police, Zafar Ali was among the first to receive information about the planned survey on 19 November and helped mobilise the protests, which escalated into clashes.
Many believe the administration has once again targeted prominent Muslim voices who have been standing up against state violence and injustice.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.