Sambhal violence: UP police to get non-bailable warrants against 91 absconding accused

The police in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal are set to approach a local court to get non-bailable warrants issued against 91 absconding accused allegedly involved in the large-scale violence that broke out in the town on November 24 last year following a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. Four people died and several others, including police officials, were injured in the violence.

“We have so far arrested 54 accused, including six women who pelted stones on the police from their rooftops that day. Ninety-one more offenders are on the Sambhal police’s radar for their involvement in the violence. They have either taken shelter in other states or are at their relatives’ places in nearby districts. We will approach the court to get the non-bailable warrants to hasten the arrest process. None will be spared,” Krishna Kumar Bishnoi, Superintendent of Police (SP), Sambhal, said on Monday evening.

The district police recently arrested Adnan Mohammed, 30, a resident of the Deepa Sarai locality in the town from Batla House in New Delhi. Mohammed had allegedly fired at the SP during the violence. The police have also arrested Zikra Khatun, 45, who had allegedly pelted stones at senior police officials during the violence.

The local court had ordered a survey of the mosque after a suit was filed claiming that it was built after destroying a temple. The suit was presented on November 19, and on the same day, the trial court allowed the request for appointing an advocate commissioner for a survey of the mosque. The violence broke out while a second survey was being carried out on November 24.