So far four people have died in the violence that took place during the survey of Shahi Jama Masjid on Sunday morning in Sambhal district of western Uttar Pradesh.
Opposition parties also tried to raise the issue of Sambhal violence in the Lok Sabha on the first day of the winter session of Parliament. However, the proceedings of the House have been adjourned for the day.
After the violence in Sambhal, high alert is in place in the area. Security arrangements have been tightened in the area and a large number of security forces have been deployed.
Given security, internet service has also been shut down in the area.
Why did the violence erupt?
Police officials have also responded to the apprehensions that the death toll may be more than four.
Moradabad DIG Muniraj ji told news agency PTI on this issue, “It is not like that. Yesterday we got the postmortem of three people done. Three people have been buried. Today itself one has died during treatment in Moradabad.”
“His postmortem has not been done yet. The cause of death will be known only after the postmortem. There is no confirmation about the fifth person.”
Sambhal SP Krishna Kumar told news agency ANI that a case has been registered against about 2500 people for the stone pelting incident in Sambhal.
He said that all the people who created the ruckus would be identified through CCTV and all would be sent to jail.
When did the violence happen
This violence started when the angry mob set fire to several vehicles on Sunday. The police fired tear gas shells and lathi-charged to control the crowd.
According to Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Anjaneya Kumar Singh, when the survey team left after completing the survey at 11 o’clock, people from three sides pelted stones at them, after which the police used force so that the survey team could be evacuated safely.
He said that during this time groups from three sides were face to face and in the meantime bullets were fired in which the PRO of the Superintendent of Police was shot in the leg, the Deputy Collector’s leg was fractured and 15-20 soldiers were injured.
After the violence and firing, Ziaur Rahman Barq, Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal, while talking to BBC correspondent Dilnawaz Pasha, claimed that the police had fired bullets and there is a tense situation in the city.
MPs raised questions
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the government’s ‘biased and hasty attitude regarding Sambhal is very unfortunate’.
Rahul Gandhi wrote on the social media platform X, “The biased and hasty attitude of the state government on the recent dispute in Uttar Pradesh is very unfortunate. I have deep condolences for those who have lost their loved ones in the violence and firing. The administration’s action without listening to all the parties and insensitively worsened the situation and caused the death of many people – for which the BJP government is directly responsible.”
Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP’s use of power to create a rift and discrimination between Hindu-Muslim communities is neither in the interest of the state nor the country. He demanded justice by the Supreme Court by intervening in the matter as soon as possible. Rahul Gandhi said, “My appeal is to maintain peace and mutual harmony. We all have to join together to ensure that India moves forward on the path of unity and constitution, not communalism and hatred.”
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi has also attacked the government over Sambhal. On Monday, outside Parliament, Owaisi said, “It was the job of the police to take the mosque committee into confidence. The people who were coming to conduct the survey were shouting provocative slogans. There are videos of that.
Owaisi said, “This is not firing but murder. All the officers involved in this should be suspended. A sitting High Court judge should investigate this. This is wrong. There is oppression in Sambhal.”
BJP’s response
Opposition members in Parliament criticized the government and the ruling BJP over the violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, saying that ‘this is a plan to polarise people on communal lines’.
But BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj termed the violence in Sambhal as “pre-planned” and said that the violence was instigated by those who were surprised by the BJP’s victory in the by-elections. In the by-elections, the BJP had won seven out of nine seats in Uttar Pradesh.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party leader Dharmendra Yadav said that the incident was unfortunate and the party would raise it in both houses of Parliament. He told reporters, “We have given a notice for adjournment. We will raise the issue in the House.”
Sambhal MP Ziaur Rahman Barq said the incident was “pre-planned” and members of the Muslim community were being targeted there.
Congress’ Saharanpur MP Imran Masood alleged the violence was sponsored by the state government.
In the Lok Sabha on Monday too, some opposition members tried to raise the issue as soon as the House proceedings began.
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