Sambhal (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 20 : Uttar pradesh Police on Thursday filed a chargesheet against the Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and others in connection with the violence that broke out near the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal in November last year.
Sambhal SP KK Bishnoi said that Barq was accused of delivering a provocative speech that allegedly incited violence.
He added that Sohail Iqbal, son of SP MLA Iqbal Mehmood, was also initially named as an accused; however, later his name was omitted from the final charge sheet due to the availability of sufficient evidence to support the allegations.
"... A total of 12 cases were registered, out of which the police filed seven. Till yesterday, police had filed a chargesheet in all the cases. A total of 92 people have been arrested and sent to jail till now. Yesterday, sheets were filed against MP Zia ur Rehman Barq, Jama Masjid Sadar chief Zafar Ali, and others under 335/2024," KK Bishnoi told ANI.
"MP Zia ur Rehman Barq, son of Sambhal MLA, Sohail Iqbal and several others were named; after a probe, Sohail Iqbal was let off. MP Zia ur Rehman Barq not only gave inflammatory speeches but also ensured the crowd gathered on 24th November. He spoke to Jama Masjid Sadar on the intervening night of November 23-24 to make sure the survey doesn't happen. Police have charge-sheeted the Member of Parliament in this case," he added.
The Sambhal SP asserted that all the cases will be brought to trial as soon as possible, and efforts will be made to get them punished.
"An SIT was formed in all the cases in which a Deputy SP, an Additional SP, and a separate Inspector level were appointed in all 12 cases. Zia ur Rehman Barq was thoroughly interrogated for 4 to 5 hours, he further said.
Violence broke out in Sambhal's Shahi Jama Masjid on November 24 last year, which took the lives of four people.