Following the violence during the survey at Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district last Sunday, the police conducted a flag march in the areas near the mosque on Thursday, a day before Friday prayers. Police said that life is coming back on track in Sambhal city. To create a sense of security among the people, a police team led by Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shrish Chandra patrolled the busy markets. After the violence on Sunday, most of the shops in Sambhal Nagar opened for the first time.
ASP said that the situation is completely peaceful and normal. When asked about security preparations for Friday prayers, he said, ‘Adequate police force has been deployed in the area and we are ready to deal with any kind of situation.
Shrish Chandra said that the local police and district administration have held a meeting with local Muslim religious leaders regarding Friday prayers. Along with the Friday prayers in Sambhal, the survey report of Jama Masjid is also to be presented in the court today, the lawyers of Muslim and Hindu side have completed preparations for this.
When asked about the hearing in the court today and the presentation of the survey report of Jama Masjid by the Advocate Commissioner, Hindu side’s lawyer Shri Gopal Sharma said, the Muslim side has to answer. After that we will prepare to respond. We will decide our further strategy only after the Muslim side responds.
At the same time, Muslim side’s lawyer Shakeel Ahmed Warsi said that we are fully prepared. We have complete evidence to prove our side, which we will present in the court. Meanwhile, Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Anjaneya Kumar Singh said that the families of the four people killed in the violence in Sambhal have filed cases against unknown people. One injured is being treated in Moradabad. His family has lodged an FIR in Moradabad.
He told that police force is deployed at all sensitive places in Sambhal. Vigilance is being maintained not only in Sambhal but in all the five districts of Moradabad division. On the question of how much damage was caused in the violence that took place in Sambhal last Sunday, the Divisional Commissioner said that the assessment of the damage is in the final stages.
Meanwhile, Imam of Shahi Jama Masjid Aftab Hussain Warsi expressed hope that peace will soon be restored in Sambhal like before. He said, may Allah maintain peace as it was before. I hope everything will be fine soon.
Sambhal city Qazi Qari Mohammad Alauddin Ajmali said that I appeal to the people of Sambhal that everyone should offer namaz in the mosques of their respective localities. People coming to the city from nearby villages and from outside should offer namaz only in the mosques of their respective areas. He said that we want peace to be established in Sambhal soon. We have appealed to the police officers that any arrest should not be against the law.
There has been a situation of tension in Sambhal since the first survey of Jama Masjid was conducted on November 19 on the orders of the court. In the petition on which the court has given this order, it has been claimed that earlier there was a Harihar temple at the place where Jama Masjid is located.
Last Sunday, violence broke out during re-survey of the mosque. During this time, four people were killed and 25 others were injured in the clash between the protesters and the police. Although the situation in the city has almost become normal, traders in the markets near the mosque claim that they are facing losses after the incident. The biggest loss has been suffered by the bullion shop owners located in the bullion market located half a kilometer away from the mosque.
Bullion trader Ajay Kumar Gupta said that there are more than 70-80 shops in the market. He said that despite it being the wedding season, our sales have declined significantly. In the last four days, hardly three customers have come to my shop. He claimed that the bullion market has suffered a loss worth crores of rupees after Sunday’s violence.
Electronic shop owner Khushnawaz said that we are sitting idle and it is becoming difficult to earn after the violence. District President of All India Trade Union Federation, Rajeev Varshney said, “This incident is very sad. Traders suffer the most losses in such incidents. People do not come out due to fear, due to which business is affected.
Meanwhile, the police are investigating the violence that took place on Sunday. Three other accused have also been arrested in the case, taking the total number of people arrested in the incident to 31. According to police sources, Faizan, Mohammad Ali and Rehan were arrested in the violence case. Police also recovered 300 country-made guns, three shells and seven bullets from their possession.
Police sources said that 30 teams have been formed to identify and arrest the accused with the help of CCTV footage. More than 100 photographs of alleged rioters have been released from Kot Garvi area. Despite the reopening of markets and schools in Sambhal, the internet ban has been extended for 48 hours on Wednesday as a ‘precautionary measure’.
Last Sunday, four people were killed in the violence that took place during the survey of Jama Masjid. They have been identified as Naeem, Bilal, Noman and Kaif. The police have registered seven cases in this case and arrested 31 people so far. Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal Zia-ur-Rehman Burke and Suhail Iqbal, son of party MLA from Sambhal Sadar seat, Iqbal Mahmood, have been named in a case.