Sources say that the incident in which four people died was caused by rivalry between Turks and Pathans – India TV

A shocking revelation is that the recent violence in Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh during the Jama Masjid survey was attributed to a deliberate power struggle between the Turk and Pathan communities. Four people were killed in the bloody clash, all of whom were reportedly supporters of Pathan MLA Iqbal Mahmood Ansari. Sources suggest that the violence was driven by deep-seated tensions, with unrest exacerbated by “Turk vs. Pathan” and “native vs. foreign” narratives.

How the violence developed

According to sources, the violence broke out when supporters of Turkish Community MP Ziaur Rahman Barq allegedly opened fire on supporters of Pathan MLA Iqbal Mahmood Ansari. People from the Pathan, Saifi and Ansari communities died as a result of the altercation. Investigation reveals that the victims were civilians and supporters of the MLA; no casualties were reported as a result of police action. The authorities believe that the rivalry was an attempt by both communities to outsmart each other politically and socially.

Legal action against son of MP and MLA

So far, seven cases have been registered and 25 people have been detained in connection with the violence. It is worth noting that the names of Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ziaur Rahman Barq and SP MLA Iqbal Mahmood’s son Suhail Iqbal have been revealed as accused in the case. Based on the testimony of injured sub-inspector Deepak Rathi, a case was filed against 800 people, including Barq and Suhail Iqbal.

Tensions leading up to the incident

According to Sambhal Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishna Kumar Vishnoi, the tension was heightened by inflammatory remarks allegedly made by MP Barqa regarding the conduct of the Jama Masjid. Barq had earlier been issued a notice under Section 168 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for provocative statements. Violence broke out during the Jama Masjid inspection and escalated into stone pelting and shooting between the two groups.

Police perspective on the incident

SP Vishnoi explained that the violence was due to growing tension between the Turk and Pathan communities. The ongoing investigation of the mosque became a flashpoint in the clash. The police maintain that their actions did not cause any deaths, emphasizing that the dead were civilians caught in the crossfire of social rivalries.