Sambhal violence: Samajwadi Party MP provoked violence for ‘political gain’, recalls FIR

Last update:November 26, 2024, 1:59 PM CEST

The Samajwadi Party has rejected the allegations against its leader, saying he was not in the city when the violence broke out.

Samajwadi Party MP Zia born Rahman Barq | File Image/PTI

Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq, who was named as the prime accused in the Sambhal violence case that left four people dead on Sunday, allegedly provoked the mob to disturb communal harmony for political purposes, the FIR mentioned.

Nearly 24 hours after violence erupted over the court-ordered inspection of a Mughal-era mosque, police filed seven FIRs naming SP MLA Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and SP MLA Iqbal Mehmood’s son Sohail Iqbal as accused.

In one of the seven summonses filed, police accused the parliamentarian of visiting a mosque in Sambhal a few days before Sunday’s violence and inciting unrest that spread to nearby areas, leading to several incidents of violence.

Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar said seven FIRs have been lodged in connection with the violence. Six people were named, including Barq and Iqbal, while 2,750 others were considered unidentified, he added.

The Samajwadi Party, however, rejected the allegations against its leader, saying he was not in the city when the violence broke out, and sharply criticized the police for allegedly hatching a conspiracy against him.

“On November 22, Ziaur Rahman Warq visited Jama Masjid. After offering namaz, he gathered a crowd without administrative permission and made provocative statements. For political gain, he incited the mob to disturb communal harmony,” the FIR stated, according to a report by India Today.

“Suhail Iqbal incited the crowd by saying, “Ziaur Rahman Warq is with us, we are also with you.” We won’t let anything happen to you; fulfill your intentions. As a result, the crowd became more violent,” the document reads.

SP team visiting Sambhal

The Samajwadi Party, which has rejected the allegations against its leaders, has planned to visit the Sambhal mosque today, party officials said. The SP delegation will be led by Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Mata Prasad Pandey.

It is worth noting that the SP team’s visit to Sambhal may create further tension as the district authorities have already imposed prohibitory orders and banned entry of outsiders into the city till November 30.

“No outside person, other social organizations or representatives of the public will cross the district border without the consent of the competent officer,” says the order, which came into force with immediate effect.

Violation of the order will be punishable in accordance with Art. 223 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public official) BNS.

Sambhal violence: everything you need to know

Sambhal has remained on edge since last Sunday, when a team of inspectors visited the Jama Masjid on the orders of a local court following a complaint that the mosque was built on a temple.

Gopal Sharma, a local lawyer representing the Hindu side, had earlier claimed that the temple that once stood on this site was demolished by the Mughal emperor Babur in 1529.

Violence broke out when a large group of people gathered near the mosque and started shouting slogans as the research team began work. In a violent protest, they pelted stones at officials opposing their move and also set fire to several vehicles.

Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain said the research team had conducted a detailed survey of the spot, supporting videos and photos, as per the court’s directions.