The Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed a chargesheet on the November 2024 Sambhal violence. The chargesheet names 23 people, including Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and Zafar Ali, head of the Shahi Jama Masjid committee, reported the Print.
The chargesheet, over 1,000 pages long, was submitted to the special MP/MLA court on Wednesday. Advocate Zafar Ali was arrested in March after a four-month investigation. He is accused of inciting violence through social media and making inflammatory statements. MP Barq is alleged to have given a provocative speech. He reportedly urged people to resist a court-ordered ASI survey of the mosque, which led to the clashes.
The violence broke out on 24 November 2024. This happened during the second phase of the survey. Protesters claimed the mosque was built on a demolished Hindu temple. The clashes between police and protesters left five dead and 29 police personnel injured.
The violence involved arson, firing, and vandalism. Property damage worth lakhs was reported. Police registered 12 FIRs—four of them for murder—at Sambhal Kotwali and Nakhasa stations. So far, 90 people, including three women, have been arrested. Police are identifying more suspects using video footage.
Suhail Iqbal, who was initially named, has been cleared.
