Sambhal mosque lawyer arrested after alleging police ordered shooting of Muslim mob
text_fields
The Uttar Pradesh police arrested Zafar Ali, the lawyer representing the Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid, shortly after he alleged that he was present when the police officials discussed firing into the Muslim mob when they gathered over the rumour of excavation of the mosque in Sambhal.
At a press conference on Monday, Ali accused senior police officials, including the district inspector general (DIG), superintendent of police (SP), and district magistrate (DM), of conspiring to provoke violence.
According to Ali, the officials summoned him to request his assistance in pacifying the crowd. He alleged that he witnessed discussions about using force, including opening fire, at a Muslim gathering protesting the survey.
Ali described the situation as volatile, noting that while some protesters dispersed after his intervention, many remained, mistakenly believing that excavation work was taking place inside the mosque. This misunderstanding, he claimed, was exacerbated by provocative actions from the police, which he argued were designed to instigate unrest.
The lawyer refuted police allegations that protesters fired upon law enforcement, denying any use of illegal weapons by the public. He characterised the incident as part of a larger conspiracy to disrupt communal harmony and target the Muslim community.
Shortly after making these claims, police raided Ali’s residence and detained him. The arrest has drawn criticism from local groups, with concerns about the potential suppression of dissenting voices.
Ali had earlier announced the mosque committee’s plans to submit a written statement during the court hearing scheduled for November 29. He also expressed the intention to challenge any adverse decisions in the High Court, emphasising the mosque’s significance as a historical place of worship.
Tensions in Sambhal escalated following a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque, based on a petition alleging that a Harihar temple once stood on the site. A subsequent survey on November 24 led to protests outside the mosque. Police opened fire on the crowd, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including two young men in their 20s.
In response to the unrest, the district administration imposed prohibitory orders under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), barring outsiders from entering the area until November 30. District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya announced these measures, aimed at preventing further escalation of tensions in the region.
