Sambhal violence: Video call to Pakistani maulvi goes viral, UP man held for endangering unity of India
Mohammed Aqil allegedly spoke to a Pakistan-based maulvi last month, asking him whether those who died in the violence that broke out in Sambhal last year should be called martyrs.
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Police security at Sambhal City after violence. (Express File Photo by Gajendra Yadav)A 24-year-old man in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district was arrested on Thursday on charges of endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India after a video of him allegedly speaking to a maulana in Pakistan on the Shahi Jama Masjid issue went viral.
Mohammed Aqil was arrested from Mirzapur Narullapur village and booked under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a non-bailable offence, after a police official lodged a complaint against him at Bahjoi police station in Sambhal. He was produced before a local court on Friday and sent to jail.
According to Shrish Chandra, assistant superintendent of police (ASP), Sambhal, Aqil spoke to Pakistan-based maulvi Mohammed Ali Mirza on January 15, asking him whether or not those who died in the violence that broke out in Sambhal on November 24 last year after a court-ordered survey of the local Shahi Jama Masjid should be called martyrs.
“He also raised questions on the role of the police in containing the violence that day. The contents of the video call and the mobile chat with the maulvi are in our possession. This has hurt the sentiments of the people and denigrated the image of the country,” ASP Chandra added.
Five people died and several others, including police personnel, were injured during the violence. The survey was ordered to ascertain if the mosque had been built after destroying a temple following a petition filed before a local court.
ASP Chandra said that the police have Aqil’s mobile phone and are checking if he was in contact with other people from Pakistan. “We are also investigating if he was involved in the violence in the town in November,” he added.
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