New Delhi, November 27: The Uttar Pradesh (UP) administration on Wednesday made public photos of several rioters who went on a rampage in Sambhal on Sunday, attacking the police as well as the mosque survey team. This includes three women accused also, who allegedly helped the stone-pelters in escalating violence during the deadly face-off between protesters and the police.
The violent confrontation in Sambhal on Sunday has resulted in the death of four youths and injury to several people, including over a dozen policemen. The violence broke out as a mob gathered outside the cityтАЩs Jama Masjid to protest against the court-ordered survey.┬аSambhal Violence: 25 Arrested; FIR Lodged Against SP MP Zia-Ur-Rehman Barq, SP MLA Iqbal MehmoodтАЩs Son Sohail Iqbal in Connection With Clashes Over UP Jama MasjidтАЩs ASI Survey.
According to police sources, many startling findings are coming to the fore in the events of the day as the accused and suspects are being grilled. Police maintain that it was a pre-planned attack with the blessings of some тАШinfluentialтАЩ people.
тАЬWomen accomplices were instructed to hurl stones at the cops from the rooftops,тАЭ one of the accused told the police. Meanwhile, reports suggest that the UP government is contemplating strict action against the rioters for the arson, destruction and vandalisation of public property in Kot Garvi, the area where the centuries old mosque is situated.┬аSambhal Violence: Yogi Government тАШOrchestrated RiotтАЩ in Uttar Pradesh To Hide Malpractice in Bypolls, Says Akhilesh Yadav.
While an ASI team conducted a survey of the mosque, the violent crowd torched many vehicles including those of the police, resulting in retaliatory action by the cops. A Magisterial enquiry is underway into the violence. Footage from CCTVs and drones is being scanned to identify the perpetrators who unleashed violence on the police team.
A total of 27 people have been arrested so far while over 100 others have been identified for pelting stones at the policemen. Sambhal MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and Sohail Iqbal, the son of MLA Iqbal Mehmood тАУ both from the Samajwadi Party (SP) have been booked by the Sambhal police for alleged complicity in the riots.
The framing of charges against the SP lawmakers has triggered a war of words between Akhilesh Yadav and the ruling BJP. The former has held the state administration as well as UP Police responsible for the bloody violence while the latter has charged the SP lawmakers of inciting and instigating the mob.
The matter pertains to the survey of the 16th century Jama Masjid, a Mughal era mosque in MuradabadтАЩs Sambhal, as mandated by the court, following petitions which claim that a Harihar temple once stood at the site.
(The above story first appeared on Today News 24 on Nov 27, 2024 02:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website todaynews24.top).
