3 months after Sambhal clashes, many homes locked as crackdown still on

Despite repeated assurances from senior police officers that action will be taken only against those involved in the violence, many families have left the area.

Fearing action, some locals have even placed letters outside their locked homes explaining why they are away. One resident has displayed a radiology report of a family member, with a note stating they have gone to Delhi for cancer treatment. Another mentions that a bank loan has been taken against the house.

Police security at Sambhal City after violence. (Express File Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

“Around 1,000 houses remain locked as residents have not returned. We are consistently assuring that no action will be taken against the innocent,” Sambhal Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar said, adding that he is aware of the letters pasted by some locals outside their homes.

The locked houses are in areas such as Hindpura, Kot Garvi, Nakhasa and Deepa Sarai. Police suspect most residents have gone to Delhi, and a team has been sent there to verify this information.

The Uttar Pradesh government has meanwhile been evaluating the cost of damage to public property caused because of the violence. Both government and private vehicles were damaged in the unrest, stones were pelted at buildings and the police, and barricades and other crowd-control equipment were vandalised.

Violent protests had broken out in Sambhal on November 24 over a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. (Express Photo)

Reports were sought from the Transport, Police, and other relevant departments to assess the extent of the damage, and the assessment is now complete. A senior official said notices for recovery against the damages would be sent to the accused after the chargesheet is filed, likely next week.

The Sambhal police have so far arrested 76 persons, with the latest arrest on February 12. All arrested accused are lodged in Moradabad.

“We will be filing the chargesheet soon,” said Additional Superintendent of Police, Sambhal, Shrish Chandra.

The Sambhal police are also looking for 86 persons whose involvement was found during the probe and have obtained non-bailable warrants against 21 so far. The police have declared rewards for persons providing details about the wanted accused, and raids are also underway to arrest them.

Last week, the police arrested a resident, Mohammad Adil, after he was seen in a video allegedly speaking with a Pakistan-based cleric about the violence, an officer said.

Police also claim to have found fresh videos showing a man allegedly provoking the crowd. Police say they are probing if the man in question is a madrasa teacher.

“We have released large posters of the wanted accused in the case,” said the SP.

These posters will be put up on walls across the city.

Twelve FIRs have been filed in connection with the violence so far, and police have already released photographs of around 250 suspects for identification. These images were obtained from CCTV footage.

Police also said they are still looking into the role of a wanted local gangster, who is operating from abroad, in the violence.