Mosque panel chief, SP MP named as key conspirators

The UP police's special investigation team has named Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and Jama Masjid committee president Zafar Ali as the main conspirators in the violence that broke out near the Shahi Jama Masjid near Sambhal in November last year, an official said on Friday.

- Deepak Lavania

MEERUT:

The 1,100-page charge sheet highlights a conspiracy to obstruct the lawful survey through the mobilization of people and incitement, the officer said.

"The charge sheet details multiple conversations that took place between Barq and Ali from November 22 to 24. They conspired to stop the court-ordered survey and were responsible for gathering the crowd on November 24, the day on which violence broke out," said Sambhal superintendent of police KK Bishnoi.

According to the charge sheet, Rizwan, the father of SP MP's personal assistant, also played a pivotal role in assembling the mob. Acting on the instructions of Barq, Rizwan, who works as an electrician at the mosque, made several calls to people from areas near the Jama Masjid and from Sarai Tareen, urging them to gather in large numbers to prevent the survey scheduled for November 24.