Police in UP link Sambhal violence to Dubai gangster, issue lookout circular for ‘supplying weapons’

Confirming that an LOC has been issued against gangster Shariq Satha, Sambhal Superintendent of Police (SP), Krishan Kumar, said, “During the probe, Satha was found to be the main conspirator in the case. He is accused of supplying weapons. He has been booked on charges of criminal conspiracy in five cases (related to the violence), including four related to murder.”

Hailing from the Deepa Sarai area in Sambhal, Satha is allegedly operating his gang from Dubai, where he is reportedly based, while issuing directives to his associates in Sambhal. Investigators said that, acting on his instructions, his aides arranged weapons that were later allegedly used by protestors during the violence.

“We have arrested three associates of Shariq in connection with the violence case,” said SP Kumar.

According to police, Shariq has as many as 54 criminal cases registered against him in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Uttarakhand. Investigators further alleged that he fled to Dubai around 2020 using a fake passport and has been running his operations from there. He has mostly been involved in auto-lifting cases, said police.

More than 100 people were arrested for their alleged role in the violence.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the case. During the investigation, police suspected possible foreign links after recovering six empty cartridges from the spot, one of which was found to have been manufactured in Pakistan. Later, the role of gangster Satha came to light.

Police have filed chargesheets in 12 cases, and trial proceedings have begun in 10 of them.