Lucknow: Sambhal violence in 2024 was the result of a pre-planned conspiracy driven by misinformation, provocative speeches and organised mobilisation by certain politicians and members of the mosque’s management committee, a govt spokesperson said.“The inquiry commission has found that those named in the case were unhappy with the Nov 19, 2024, order of the civil judge (senior division) directing a survey of the Jama Masjid in connection with the Harihar Temple dispute. The report concluded that opposition to the survey order formed the basis for unrest,” he said.Citing the commission’s findings, the spokesperson said officials of the Archaeological Survey of India encountered resistance from office-bearers of the Intazamia Committee and members of an aggressive crowd during the survey proceedings.“The panel identified the circulation of misleading videos and messages as one of the primary triggers behind the violence,” he said, adding that provocative speeches delivered near the mosque intensified tensions and triggered slogan-shouting, stone-pelting, arson and indiscriminate firing.The spokesperson said these developments led to injuries to policemen and administrative officials and ultimately resulted in four deaths.The spokesperson said that investigators recovered foreign-made 12-bore cartridges from the scene and that the commission concluded both local and outside elements had participated in the violence.Describing the violence as a coordinated attack on law enforcement personnel, he said the commission found that members of the crowd pelted police teams with stones, opened fire, attempted to snatch police weapons and set vehicles and public property ablaze.“All four deaths during violence were caused by firing from within the group of protestors during clashes and not due to police firing,” he said.
