Sambhal Violence: Panel Uncovers Riot Plot

A judicial panel probing the November 2024 Sambhal violence submitted a 450-page report to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday, revealing a premeditated plot to incite communal unrest and a significant demographic shift in the town. The violence, which erupted on November 24 during an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, claimed four lives and injured 29 policemen, with the report pointing to external rioters and radical groups as key instigators.

Led by retired Allahabad High Court judge Devendra Kumar Arora, alongside former IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain and ex-IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad, the panel conducted multiple visits to Sambhal since December 1, 2024, recording statements from over 200 witnesses. The report, described as “confidential” by Jain, details a history of 15 communal riots since 1947, with Hindus allegedly targeted in each, leading to a drastic population decline from 45% at Independence to 15-20% today, while the Muslim population has risen to 85%. BJP leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Brij Lal, emphasized this shift as a “threat to national security,” linking it to an exodus driven by violence.

The unrest began on November 19, 2024, when Hindu petitioners, including advocates Hari Shankar Jain and Vishnu Shankar Jain, claimed the Shahi Jama Masjid was built over a Harihar temple demolished by Mughal ruler Babur. A court-ordered ASI survey sparked tensions, escalating into violence during a second survey on November 24, fueled by a speech allegedly delivered by Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq on November 22. The report cites Barq’s remarks, “Muslims are the masters of this country, not servants,” as a trigger, alongside internal clashes between Turk and Pathan communities. Police arrested Barq and mosque committee head Zafar Ali, filing FIRs against 2,750 unidentified individuals.

Also Read: SP, Congress Slam BJP Over Sambhal Violence Report Claims

The report praises the Uttar Pradesh Police for preventing a “massacre” through heavy deployment in Hindu areas but notes the involvement of illegal arms and narcotics networks, with weapons from the UK, USA, and Germany recovered. It also highlights 1,000 cleared encroachments and 35 demolished unauthorized religious structures in Sambhal over the past year, reclaiming 70 hectares of land. Historical riots, including a 1962 stabbing of Jan Sangh MLA Mahesh Gupta and a 1976 maulvi murder, are cited as part of Sambhal’s volatile communal history.

Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad confirmed the report’s submission, stating, “Further action will follow after review.” The report will be tabled before the UP Cabinet and Assembly. Critics, including the Samajwadi Party, accused the BJP of exploiting the survey for political gain, citing the Places of Worship Act, 1991. As Sambhal remains tense, with police displaying posters of 74 suspects, the findings underscore deep-seated communal fault lines and raise questions about long-term stability.

Also Read: SP, Congress Slam BJP Over Sambhal Violence Report Claims