Sambhal Violence: The primary provider of weapons concerned in final 12 months’s violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal was arrested on Thursday, in accordance with police stories. Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Vishnoi acknowledged {that a} complete of 79 people have been apprehended in reference to the riots that erupted throughout a survey on the Shahi Jama Masjid on November 24, 2024. The accused, recognized as Gulam, a resident of Deepa Sarai and son of Mukhtar, was taken into custody for allegedly offering arms throughout the unrest. Notably, there are 20 instances registered towards him.
Throughout police interrogation, Gulam disclosed that he had communicated with a person named Sarik Sata on November 23, who instructed him to impede the survey in any respect prices. Sata, who has since fled the nation utilizing a pretend passport, can be implicated in promoting stolen automobiles.
Based on Vishnoi, Gulam acquired weapons from Sata and was answerable for distributing them throughout India.
Police recovered a 9mm pistol, two .32 bore pistols, and 15 stay cartridges from Gulam, a few of which have been of Czechoslovakian and British origin.
“Throughout the November 24 violence, their leaders instructed them that this (mosque) was a 500-year-old relic of Babur and have to be protected. Moreover, they focused a lawyer who ceaselessly filed petitions, instructing that he be eradicated,” Vishnoi added.
The accused had deleted important knowledge from his cell phone, which can now be despatched to a forensic lab. Police have additionally discovered movies associated to gold smuggling on his system.
When requested about attainable political hyperlinks, Vishnoi mentioned, “Within the 2014 elections, Shafiqur Rahman Barq contested on a Samajwadi Social gathering ticket. At his behest, Gulam carried out a firing incident towards Suhail Iqbal, for which a case was registered towards him. Gulam labored for the Sarik Sata gang whereas staying in India.”
The police investigation additionally revealed a number of WhatsApp teams linked to the riots.
“One such group, named ‘Sansad Sambhal,’ had messages from November 22 calling folks to collect. Some responded, whereas others didn’t. The matter is beneath investigation,” Vishnoi mentioned.
The accused reportedly communicated with Sata by the Zangi app and even contacted his spouse a number of occasions on her cell phone.
“We now have seized Sarik Sata’s spouse’s telephone and interrogated her as properly,” the officer added.
4 folks have been killed in a riot that broke out on November 24 following a Courtroom-ordered survey on the Shahi Jama Masjid within the Kot Garvi space of town whereas a number of others have been left injured within the episode.
