UP government resumes name shaming drive and recovers compensation from Sambhal rioters

Last update:November 28, 2024, 18:56 CEST

The administration will put up hoardings and banners at public places with names, recovery amounts and photos of people allegedly involved in stone pelting and violence on November 24 near Shahi Jama Masjid in Kot Garvi area of ​​Sambhal district

The move came four days after violence broke out in Sambhal during the court-ordered inspection of Shahi Jama Masjid. (File photo/PTI)

The Uttar Pradesh government is all set to resume its controversial ‘naming and shaming’ campaign. As part of this action, it will place hoardings and banners in public places displaying the names, recovery amounts and photos of people who were allegedly involved in the stone-pelting and violence that took place on November 24 near the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal Kot Garvi district.

The move came four days after violence broke out in Sambhal during the court-ordered inspection of Shahi Jama Masjid. The survey was prompted by a petition claiming that a Harihar temple once stood there, leading to Sunday’s confrontation. The violence left five people dead and several injured, including police officers.

Taking a strong stand against the rioters, the UP government has decided to recover the total amount of damage caused to public properties during the Sambhal violence from those responsible. An official spokesman said: “Posters depicting stone dealers and criminals will be displayed publicly and we will demand redress for the damage. A reward may also be offered for information leading to their arrest.”

UP government officials said they have so far identified around 100 rioters, most of whom remain at large. Efforts are ongoing to identify others involved in the Sambhal violence. “We are analyzing CCTV footage and videos to collect names and photos of rioters which will be made public in Sambhal and circulated on social media,” the official said.

The district administration has calculated the total damage caused during the violence, which will be shared equally among the rioters for compensation under the Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damage to Public and Private Property Act, 2020, the official added.

However, this was not the first time the UP government had launched a name-naming and shaming campaign. A similar initiative was taken in 2020 to recover compensation for damage to public property from anti-CAA protesters. The government held them responsible for loss of life or injury during riots or protests and ordered them to pay compensation.

Besides, the UP government is also going to announce rewards for information leading to arrests of fleeing rioters. So far, the UP police have identified 100 people who indulged in stone pelting and arrested 27, including two women. A total of 12 FIRs were filed. In the meantime, a prosecutor’s investigation into this incident was also initiated. The state government has reiterated its commitment to bring the perpetrators to book, in line with the order issued earlier on the recovery of compensation and making the identity of the perpetrators public.

Sources said that residents of areas such as Shahi Jama Masjid, Nakhasa and Hindu Pura Kheda were mainly involved in stone pelting. More than twenty people are in custody for questioning. The FIR was lodged based on complaints lodged by the families of the four deceased persons.