A 24-year-old man from Mirzapur Narullapur village in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district was arrested on Thursday on charges of endangering India's sovereignty, unity, and integrity after a video surfaced showing him allegedly speaking to a Pakistan-based maulvi regarding the Shahi Jama Masjid issue.
Mohammed Aqil was booked under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a non-bailable offence, after a police complaint was filed at the Bahjoi police station, and was sent to jail after being produced before a local court on Friday, The Indian Express reported.
The arrest follows an investigation into a video call Aqil allegedly made on January 15, during which he spoke with Mohammed Ali Mirza, a Pakistan-based maulvi. Aqil reportedly inquired whether those killed in the violence in Sambhal on November 24 last year, following a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, should be considered martyrs.
He also questioned the role of the police in handling the situation. Police officials have claimed to possess both the video call and mobile chat contents, which are said to have provoked public anger and tarnished the country’s image.
The violence in Sambhal, which led to the deaths of five people and injuries to several others, including police officers, stemmed from tensions surrounding a court-ordered survey to determine if the mosque had been built on the site of a demolished temple.
Authorities have seized Aqil’s mobile phone and are investigating whether he had communicated with other individuals in Pakistan. Further inquiries are underway to determine if Aqil had any involvement in the November violence.