Sambhal Violence: Sambhal MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq has filed a petition in the Allahabad High Court challenging the FIR registered against him over violence during a court-monitored survey of a Mughal-era mosque. The petition is likely to be heard by the court on Friday.
The police had also filed an FIR against MLA Nawab Iqbal Mahmood’s son Nawab Suhail Iqbal a day after violence broke out during the survey. A total of seven FIRs have been filed against 2,500 people in this connection.
Barq earlier alleged the incident was pre-planned and people from the Muslim community were being targeted. “This has not happened after independence, DM and SP should have conducted a survey. We were not allowed to read Jumme ki Namaaz, these people had arrived shouting Jai Shri Ram slogans,” he had said.
“Barq was given a notice under section 167B. He had instigated the crowd. That was the reason that many people came together. Firing came from the crowd. 25 arrests have been made. CCTV footage is being examined,” police said.
Temple Reopened In Sambhal After 46 Years
Recently, the Sambhal administration reopened a temple which was said to have been locked since 1978 after communal riots in the town. The Bhasma Shankar temple houses an idol of Lord Hanuman and a Shivling.
Officials stated the temple, which is close to the Shahi Jama Masjid, where the clashes took place, was opened after authorities “stumbled” on it during an anti-encroachment drive.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vandana Mishra, who was leading a campaign against electricity theft in the area, had said: “While inspecting the region, we stumbled upon this temple. Upon noticing it, I immediately informed the district authorities.”
