Sambhal MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq has strongly denied accusations of instigating violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, during a mosque survey. An FIR was filed against Barq, accusing him of “instigating” stone pelting during clashes that erupted over a court-ordered survey of the Jama Masjid. The violence led to four fatalities, with several people injured.
Barq, a member of the Samajwadi Party (SP), claimed he was in Bengaluru attending a meeting of the India Muslim Personal Law Board when the incident occurred. “I was not even in the state, let alone Sambhal. I had gone to Bengaluru for a meeting, but a case was filed against me. This is a conspiracy by the police administration,” he said in a statement to news agency ANI. Barq accused the police of fabricating the case to target him and undermining the reputation of both Uttar Pradesh and India.
He also questioned how people could have pelted stones when they were unaware of the survey team’s arrival. Barq alleged that the police used weapons during the clash, resulting in innocent deaths. He demanded that murder charges be filed against the officers responsible for the violence, stating that “innocent lives were lost due to a well-orchestrated conspiracy.”
SP’s Accusations and Calls for Accountability
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav echoed Barq’s claims, asserting that the violence was orchestrated by the Uttar Pradesh government to divert attention from alleged malpractice during recent bypolls. Yadav also alleged that the violence was a deliberate attempt to create communal unrest in the region. “The riot was orchestrated by the government,” Yadav said, also demanding that police officers responsible for the deaths be suspended and prosecuted for murder.
Yadav further criticized the court’s decision to proceed with the mosque survey without fully understanding the legal complexities. According to him, the survey was carried out under the direction of the District Magistrate, rather than as part of a court order, and led to unnecessary confrontations. Yadav claimed that the situation escalated when some people questioned the survey, and the police responded by opening fire on the crowd.
The management committee of the Jama Masjid also held local authorities accountable for the violence. Zafar Ali, president of the Shahi Jama Masjid committee, condemned the survey, stating that it was ordered unlawfully by the District Magistrate and not by the court. “The culpable officials in this incident are Sambhal’s Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vandana Mishra and Circle Officer Anuj Kumar,” Ali stated during a press conference. Ali was detained by police immediately after the meeting.
On Monday, the streets of Sambhal were tense but peaceful, with a heavy police presence and ongoing patrolling in the area. Several houses in the violence-hit neighborhoods were locked, and residents were hesitant to speak to the media. Traffic resumed as usual, and some shops had reopened.
The situation remains volatile, and investigations into the incident are ongoing. As of now, 25 people have been arrested in connection with the violence.
