New Delhi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Vice President Malik Moatasim Khan strongly condemned the killing of innocent Muslim youth in a police firing incident in Sambhal district, Uttar Pradesh. In a statement on Monday, Malik Moatasim Khan said, “We vehemently condemn the police firing in Sambhal district, which resulted in the tragic loss of several innocent Muslim lives. This incident is a glaring example of rising state oppression, religious bias, and intolerance in society.”
He further criticised the unilateral decision by the local court to order a survey of a mosque without considering the viewpoint of the mosque committee. He remarked that this decision raises serious questions about judicial processes and undermines public trust in the judiciary’s integrity. Additionally, he highlighted the presence of provocative, anti-social elements accompanying the survey team, whose communal slogans further escalated tensions and incited violence.
Malik Moatasim Khan demanded strict legal action against these disruptive elements and called for an impartial judicial inquiry into the incident to ensure accountability of the involved police officers and justice for the victims and their families.
He emphasised the importance of upholding the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which guarantees the preservation of religious places as they existed in 1947. He urged that this law be strictly enforced in its true spirit to safeguard the rights and sanctity of religious sites.
The JIH Vice President also called on the government and judiciary to take serious note of the growing trend of targeting Muslim places of worship through false claims, which he described as deliberate attempts to foster hatred and division in society.
He stated, “In such communal tensions, the police must act responsibly to restore peace and order instead of exacerbating conflicts through excessive force and misconduct.”
Expressing condolences to the victims, Mr. Khan urged the public to remain patient and steadfast during these challenging times. He called for collective efforts to voice opposition against injustice and hatred, stating that ensuring justice and preventing the recurrence of such incidents is crucial for the welfare of the nation and society.
He concluded by urging the government and administration to ensure that such instances of state oppression are not repeated in the future.