Sambhal mosque panel chief held over clashes

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday arrested Zafar Ali, the president of the Shahi Jama Masjid committee, for allegedly orchestrating violence in the Sambhal district of the state during a mosque survey in November last year, officials aware of the matter said.

- Deepak Lavania

MEERUT:

According to officials, Ali was first detained from his residence, located around 100 metres from the mosque, at around 11 a.m. and then interrogated for close to four hours by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) over the violence, which claimed five lives. He was formally arrested after the questioning.

"On the basis of evidence collected, Zafar Ali was arrested for his role in inciting violence as a team surveyed the Shahi Jama Masjid following court orders. He was sent to jail following court orders," Sambhal superintendent of police (SP) Krishan Kumar Bishnoi said. Ali denied the charges. "I did not incite any violence," Ali said as he was being produced before a court in Chandausi.

Tension was brewing in Sambhal since November 19 after a civil court directed the advocate commissioner to conduct a survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid. An initial survey was conducted the same day. However, violence broke out during a second inspection of the mosque on November 24 as protesters clashed with police. At least five people died of gunshot wounds in the ensuing violence, and dozens, including personnel, were injured.

Police maintained that they did not fire at the protesters even though the agitators pelted stones and set vehicles on fire, adding that "some miscreants" in the crowd started the firing.

The mosque committee contested the police version, accusing it of provoking the crowd, with Ali saying that the five men were killed in police firing.