A judicial commission probing the 2024 Sambhal violence has concluded that the unrest was “pre-planned” and has referred to the alleged role of Samajwadi Party MP Zia ur Rahman Barq and Suhail Iqbal, the son of SP MLA Iqbal Mehmood, according to the report tabled in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday.
The commission’s findings, cited by ANI, also state that false information regarding the ASI-monitored survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid was circulated among members of the Muslim community before violence broke out.
Report Rejects Allegation of Police Firing
According to the commission, the bullets that caused the deaths during the violence were not fired by the police. It also alleged that rioters attempted to loot police weapons during the clashes.
The report was submitted by the three-member judicial panel to the Uttar Pradesh government and was later presented in the Assembly.
Violence During Mosque Survey
The violence erupted on November 24, 2024, near the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal while an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-monitored survey of the mosque was underway.
The clashes claimed four lives and left several others injured.
Panel Notes Demographic Changes
The commission also highlighted what it described as significant demographic changes in Sambhal. According to the report, the Hindu population in the district has declined from 45 per cent at the time of Independence to around 15 per cent at present, while Muslims now make up about 85 per cent of the population.
Yogi Adityanath Cites Report
Referring to the commission’s findings, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the report had revealed how a conspiracy behind the 2024 Sambhal riots unfolded.
Speaking at the inauguration and foundation-laying ceremony of various development projects in Sambhal, Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh was moving from a policy of “appeasement” to “satisfaction” and asserted that there was no room for any demographic shift in the state. He also linked the violence to what he described as a history of targeted actions against Hindus under previous governments.
Historical Context Mentioned
The report, according to PTI, traces Sambhal’s history of communal tensions back to a Shia-Sunni clash in 1953. It also refers to major riots in 1956, 1959, 1962, 1966 and 1976, including incidents linked to the stabbing of Jan Sangh MLA Mahesh Gupta and disputes involving a mosque committee that led to communal violence and curfews.