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Sambhal violence: Four people were killed and over 20 police personnel were injured in clashes between mob and police over survey of mosque.
Manage violence
Cracking down on the rioters, the Sambhal administration has released fresh pictures of over 120 such persons involved in stone-pelting and arson during the survey of Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.
This comes after the Yogi Adityanath government decided to display the posters of the stone-pelters in the violence and make the rioters pay for damage to public properties.
The images released by the administration show the rioters covering their faces with masks and throwing stones at the policemen. They are also seen holding sticks and weapons. The pictures also include those from the Nakhasa and Jama Masjid areas. The administration has extended the internet shutdown for two more days due to the ongoing tensions in the area.
The Superintendent of Police has urged the public to help identify the rioters in order to maintain peace. The police have stated that efforts will be made to recover damages caused by the rioters, and they urge citizens to come forward with any information that could assist in their arrest.
Violence In Sambhal Over Mosque Survey
Notably, over 20 police personnel were injured in the violence that broke out over the court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque.
Four people also died in the violence, drawing sharp reactions from the Opposition who accused the Yogi government of targetting minorities. However, the UP Police said that their deaths did not take place from the weapons used by the police.
Over 25 rioters have been arrested so far in connection with the violence. The police had earlier said that several kinds of weapons were recovered from the arrested persons, which also included women.
This is not the first instance of the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government taking stringent action against protesters. During the anti-CAA protests in 2020, the government publicly displayed posters identifying individuals allegedly involved in acts of vandalism.
What Happened In Sambhal?
Massive violence erupted in Sambhal on Sunday as mob gathered outside the mosque and started chanting slogans as the survey team conducted its work. Tensions escalated in the area as the protesters and the police clashed. The mob vandalised the vehicles and also set them on fire and pelted stones on the police.
So far, the police have arrested 25 individuals and filed seven FIRs. The accused include Zia-ur-Rahman Barq, the Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal; Sohail Iqbal, son of the party’s local MLA Iqbal Mehmood; and over 2,750 unidentified individuals.
A magisterial inquiry has been initiated, and Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Vishnoi confirmed on Monday that the situation is now under control. He emphasised that “strict action will be taken against those responsible for the unrest.”
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