Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and Suhail Iqbal, son of SP MLA Nawab Iqbal Mahmood, have been named among 23 key accused in a 1,100-page chargesheet filed in connection with the November 24 Sambhal violence that left five people dead and nearly 30 policemen injured, police said on Wednesday.
According to the chargesheet, Barq allegedly made provocative remarks the night before the violence. Police say he called Zafar Ali, head of the Shahi Jama Masjid committee, warning him to stop the court-ordered survey or “the community would spit” on them. He allegedly asked Ali to gather a crowd and block the survey at any cost.
On the day of the violence, Barq’s alleged remarks reportedly contributed to the mobilisation of 2,000–3,000 people near the mosque. Clashes broke out after police tried to disperse the crowd. Stone-pelting, vandalism, and gunfire followed, injuring civilians and senior officers, including the Sambhal SP, Circle Officer, and Deputy Collector.
Suhail Iqbal is accused of being part of the violent mob and allegedly instructing rioters to shoot the Circle Officer, according to the police.
Inspector Deepak Rathi lodged the initial FIR, naming both Barq and Iqbal for inciting violence and conspiracy. Over 700–800 unnamed individuals have also been listed as accused.
So far, 90 people have been arrested and jailed, including Zafar Ali. Three women were also arrested; one has since been released due to lack of evidence.
The violence erupted during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, following a petition by Mahant Rishi Raj Giri Maharaj of Kailadevi Temple. He claimed that the mosque was built over a Hindu temple in 1529. The civil court ordered the survey within two and a half hours of receiving the petition on November 19, 2024.
A team including the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police visited the mosque the same evening and again on November 21. But the third visit on November 24 was met with violence.
This story was originally published in theobserverpost.com. Read the full story here.