LUCKNOW: The judicial commission probing the Sambhal violence, which erupted on Nov 24, 2024, has concluded that the clashes were the result of a pre-planned conspiracy rather than a spontaneous outbreak.The report praises the police and civil administration for preventing unrest from escalating into wider communal riots across the state and the country.The 370-page report, tabled in the Monsoon session of Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday, said that several people, including MP Zia-ur-Rahman Barq and Suhail Iqbal, son of MLA Iqbal Mahmood, played a key role in stoking unrest.
Probe panel calls ’24 Sambhal violence a ‘pre-planned conspiracy’
The report said that misinformation about a mosque survey was deliberately spread within the Muslim community, creating fear and tension that led to the gathering of a large crowd outside the mosque.The violence that followed involved stone-pelting, arson and gunfire, leaving four people dead. The report claims that the fatal bullets were not fired by the police.The report noted that officers acted with restraint despite extensive stone-pelting, arson and gunfire.“Police prevented violence from spreading into Hindu-majority localities and stopped the incident from taking a wider communal turn,” the report said.“Four people were killed and 28 police and administrative personnel injured, including seven officers who sustained gunshot wounds. Based on forensic and ballistic evidence, the deceased died from firearm injuries caused by weapons used by miscreants in the crowd rather than police firing. No FIR filed by relatives of the deceased blamed police action for the deaths,” the report noted.“The violence was primarily the result of coordination among Sambhal MP Zia-ur-Rahman Barq, Suhel Iqbal, son and representative of local MLA Iqbal Mahmood, Jama Masjid Intezamia Committee president Zafar Ali, secretary Mashhood Ali Farooqui, and other committee members,” the report said.“These individuals opposed the court-ordered survey linked to a civil suit claiming the mosque stood on the site of the historic Harihar temple,” it added.On Nov 28, 2024, the state govt constituted a judicial commission comprising Justice (retd) Devendra Kumar Arora as chairman, and retired IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad and retired IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain as members.The commission was tasked with determining whether the violence was spontaneous or planned, examining the adequacy of police and administrative arrangements, identifying the circumstances behind the unrest and recommending measures to prevent recurrence.The commission, which inspected the disputed site, examined 199 witnesses and scrutinised police, administrative and forensic records, said in its report that public speeches delivered between Nov 19 and Nov 24 charged the atmosphere and tried to convince the Muslims that the mosque faced an imminent threat.Messages were circulated urging people to gather at the mosque on Nov 24 and resist the survey, the report said, adding that evidence suggested some people were armed with stones and firearms. The report said that the violence was aimed at obstructing the survey and intimidating officials.The panel said that misinformation regarding the nature of the court proceedings fueled public anger and the community was led to believe that the suit sought demolition of the mosque, whereas the relief was sought for access to and maintenance of the ASI-protected monument.Describing the violence as a grave threat to public order and national security, the commission said those responsible should face stringent action under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.It concluded that there had been no threat to the existence of the Jama Masjid from the survey and that the incident was the outcome of a “well-planned conspiracy” aimed at disrupting lawful proceedings, asserting political dominance and discrediting the govt and administration.The panel said coordinated action by officials prevented a larger communal conflagration and ensured completion of the survey.
