Sambhal violence: SIT likely to file charge sheets today

The special investigation team (SIT) formed to probe the Sambhal violence during the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid on November 24 is likely to file charge sheets in court on Wednesday.

- Rohit Kumar Singh

LUCKNOW:

The case relates to clashes that erupted during a court-ordered ASI inspection of the Mughal era mosque, leaving four people dead and 29 injured.

As many as 79 accused, including four women and two members of Shariq Satha gang, have already been arrested in the FIRs related to Sambhal violence lodged against 38 named accused and 2,500 unidentified accused involved in pelting police personnel with stones, firing and arson during the survey on November 24.

The newly introduced Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) provision mandates that chargesheets in criminal cases must be filed against the accused within a prescribed period of 60-90 days, otherwise the arrest is illegal, and the accused is entitled to bail. And this deadline is ending by February 23 (Sunday).

ASP (North) Shrish Chandra, heading the SIT, said the chargesheets will be filed in eight FIRs related to the violence and the 90-day deadline for investigation will be over on February 23.