Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh – The Sambhal police have submitted a 4,000-page chargesheet against 79 individuals in connection with the recent violence in the district. Filed in the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court, the document details allegations of rioting, firing, and suspected foreign funding.
Authorities claim that the mastermind behind the unrest is Shariq Satha, a Dubai-based fugitive known for vehicle theft. Investigators allege that he orchestrated the violence to assert control over the area. His involvement reportedly surfaced following the arrest of two associates, Mulla Afroz and Muhammad Waris, accused of firing shots that killed four of the five deceased victims.
According to police reports, Satha had stolen around 300 vehicles from Delhi-NCR before fleeing to Dubai in 2020. Officials also suspect foreign-made cartridges were recovered at the scene, alongside unusual financial transactions in Sambhal.
Sambhal SP Krishna Kumar Bishnoi stated, “His role became evident during the investigation, and based on the evidence, it is clear that he instigated the violence. The chargesheet includes members of the Satha gang along with 79 accused individuals.”
Among those arrested is Ghulam, who faces 20 criminal cases for allegedly smuggling foreign weapons. Meanwhile, a Muslim woman named Farhana was initially accused but later released due to a lack of evidence.
The case involves seven FIRs, one of which names Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman as the main accused. MLA Iqbal Mahmood’s son, Sohail Iqbal, is also listed. They are alleged to have incited unrest and gathered crowds during the controversial mosque survey. Additionally, 37 other locals and 3,750 unidentified individuals are mentioned in the chargesheet. Four separate FIRs have been filed by the families of the deceased victims.
