Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district have invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against Mulla Afroz, the alleged mastermind behind last year’s communal violence linked to a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque.
According to officials, the order was issued by the district magistrate on October 13 and confirmed by Sambhal Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar Bishnoi. Afroz, who was already lodged in Moradabad district jail, was formally served the NSA notice on October 14.
The NSA allows authorities to detain individuals for up to 12 months without trial to prevent actions deemed harmful to public order or national security. “In view of maintaining public order and preventing recurrence of such incidents, action under the National Security Act has been taken against Mulla Afroz,” a police statement said.
The case dates back to November 2024, when tension erupted in Sambhal following a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid after claims that a Harihar temple once stood there. During a second round of the survey on November 24, clashes broke out between locals and police, leaving four people dead and several others injured.
Investigators said Afroz played a central role in the violence, accusing him of instigating the mob and firing at security personnel. “He was the mastermind of the incident and was found to have provoked others to attack the police,” said a senior police officer.
Afroz was arrested on January 19 this year and sent to judicial custody. While his bail plea was pending before the Allahabad High Court, intelligence reports suggested he might try to incite similar unrest if released, prompting authorities to invoke the NSA.
