Lucknow: Rihai Manch has called for action against District Magistrate (DM) and Superintendent of Police (SP) in Sambhal, holding them responsible for the deaths of four Muslim youths during recent unrest. The organisation has accused the administration of negligence and bias, citing allegations from the victims’ families that the youths were killed in police firing.
Mohammad Shoaib, Rihai Manch President, criticised the filing of FIR against MP Ziaur Rahman, who was reportedly not present at the scene, calling it evidence of lawlessness in Uttar Pradesh. Shoaib also condemned the police for allegedly silencing dissent by detaining Advocate Zafar Ali after he addressed the media. The prevention of Azad Samaj Party leader Chandrashekhar Azad and other socio-political figures from visiting Sambhal, he argued, was an attempt to suppress the truth.
Shoaib demanded an investigation into the role of both the petitioner and the survey team involved in the incident.
Referring to a sting operation in Bahraich that allegedly exposed a conspiracy involving BJP members, he suggested similar motives might be at play in Sambhal. He questioned why FIRs were not filed against those raising inflammatory slogans alongside the survey team while the police pursued thousands of others. Shoaib challenged the administration to disclose actions taken based on video evidence of police firing and stone pelting, questioning whether the stringent NSA would be applied to such instances.
Rihai Manch General Secretary Rajiv Yadav condemned the Sambhal SP for laughing during a press conference about the violence, labelling the behaviour as “shameful and irresponsible.” Yadav argued that such officials pose a threat to national interest and called for their removal. He criticised the police for allegedly vandalising homes, arresting individuals based on dubious FIRs, and conducting raids under false pretences.
Yadav further alleged that the deaths of the youths were examples of targeted killings by the police, citing viral videos showing police personnel firing and throwing stones. He connected the incident to a pattern of police brutality during previous protests under BJP rule, including the Bharat Bandh of April 2018, the anti-citizenship law protests of December 2019, and the farmers’ movement.
He raised concerns about allegations of police using private weapons, pointing to the targeting of women and others as indicative of a troubling mindset within the UP police. According to Yadav, if police officers fired without authorisation from senior officials like DM or SP, it underscores a lack of control over the force. Conversely, he argued, the absence of disciplinary action suggests the officials acted with governmental approval.
Lastly, Yadav criticised the DM for mishandling the situation, noting allegations of the survey team arriving late on November 19, and stoking tensions with provocative slogans in various neighbourhoods on November 24. He emphasised the importance of consulting peace committees, community leaders, and other stakeholders in resolving sensitive issues and preventing violence.
