In a controversial move, Zafar Ali, the president of the Jama Masjid Committee in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, was arrested on Sunday, March 23, 2025. This arrest occurred just a day before he was scheduled to testify before a judicial commission investigating the November 24, 2024, violence linked to a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, reported the Deccan Herald.
Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar Bishnoi stated that Ali was taken into custody after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) found evidence of his involvement in the November violence. Ali’s brother, Anwar Ali, has alleged that the arrest is a deliberate attempt to prevent Zafar from providing testimony that could be unfavorable to local authorities.
The November 24 incident involved violent clashes during an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) examination of the 500-year-old Shahi Jama Masjid. The survey aimed to investigate claims that the mosque was constructed over a demolished Hindu temple. The unrest resulted in multiple casualties and injuries among both civilians and security personnel.
Zafar Ali was remanded to Moradabad jail on a two-day judicial remand following his arrest. His bail application is scheduled for a hearing on March 27, 2025. This development has raised concerns among community members and human rights advocates, who view the timing of the arrest as potentially obstructive to the judicial inquiry.
