Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh | July 2025
The Uttar Pradesh Police have filed a voluminous 1,100-page chargesheet that lays bare what they claim is a deeply coordinated conspiracy behind the communal violence that rocked Sambhal in late November 2024. At the center of the probe is Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament (MP) Zia-ur-Rehman Barq, along with Shahi Jama Masjid Committee President Zafar Ali, and 21 others. The police have charged them with inciting and orchestrating violent protests aimed at obstructing a legally sanctioned survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid.
The Sambhal Violence, which resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including civilians and police personnel, and left over a dozen injured, marks one of the most serious communal flare-ups in western Uttar Pradesh in recent years.
📞 The Alleged Plot: Tapped Conversations and Coordinated Calls
According to the chargesheet filed in the special MP/MLA court in Chandausi, the police claim that telephonic conversations between MP Barq and mosque president Zafar Ali revealed an intent to mobilize a protest against the district administration’s survey. These calls, dated between November 22 and 24, occurred shortly before the violence broke out on November 24.
The court-sanctioned survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid came after claims were filed in a local court alleging the mosque was built over a demolished Hindu temple. The move echoed a series of similar controversies over religious sites across India, including the Gyanvapi mosque case in Varanasi and the Shahi Idgah in Mathura.
Police assert that Barq and Zafar Ali, rather than appealing for peace, discussed mobilizing local residents and mosque-goers to “resist” the officials during the scheduled survey. Supporting this claim are call detail records and tower locations, along with surveillance footage, all of which have been cited in the chargesheet.
👥 Network of Mobilization: Rizwan and the Role of Inner Circle
A key figure named in the chargesheet is Rizwan, an electrician at the mosque and the father of Barq’s personal assistant. He allegedly played a central role in coordinating calls to residents from neighboring localities, urging them to converge at the mosque on the day of the survey.
Investigators recovered audio recordings and digital evidence suggesting that Rizwan, acting on instructions, told people the mosque was under threat and asked them to “defend their faith.” The prosecution claims these messages, often shared via WhatsApp and local announcements, were inflammatory and designed to provoke religious sentiments.
🔥 The Day of Sambhal Violence: What Happened on November 24
On the morning of the survey, a crowd of nearly 2,000 people had gathered outside the Shahi Jama Masjid. As administrative and police teams arrived, tensions escalated into stone pelting, arson, and violent clashes. Police vehicles were torched, government records destroyed, and several shops and homes were vandalized.
Amid the chaos, five people lost their lives. Two were confirmed as local protesters, while three were law enforcement and municipal officials who were attacked during the melee. The police said they were unprepared for the magnitude of the crowd, which was “deliberately swelled” by calls from outside districts.
Over 25 people were seriously injured, including police constables, a circle officer, and a magistrate.
⚖️ Charges and Arrests: What the Chargesheet Alleges
The chargesheet accuses the 23 named individuals of:
- Conspiracy to incite communal violence
- Attempt to murder
- Obstruction of public servants
- Destruction of public property
- Unlawful assembly
- Promotion of enmity between religious groups (IPC Section 153A)
Police have so far arrested 92 people, with others still under investigation. The chargesheet has been submitted with documented phone logs, surveillance videos, drone images, and eyewitness accounts.
🗣️ MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq Responds
MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq has denied all allegations, claiming he was in Bengaluru on the day of the incident. In a press statement, he said:
“This is a political witch hunt. I had no role to play in the events that occurred. My whereabouts are verifiable, and I had no contact with those involved in any wrongdoing. This is an attempt to silence the voice of the opposition.”
His legal team has submitted documents including flight records and hotel bookings to support his alibi, but investigators argue that his communication records tie him to the conspiracy, regardless of physical location.
🕌 The Religious Underpinnings: Why the Mosque Survey Sparked Fear
The Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal is over 300 years old and holds deep cultural and religious value for the local Muslim community. When the local court admitted a petition questioning the origins of the mosque and allowed a survey, it triggered fears that it could lead to its potential demolition or sealing—similar to what happened in other disputed religious places.
While Hindu groups in the region welcomed the survey as a step toward historical justice, Muslim leaders termed it as “selective targeting” aimed at disturbing communal harmony. The situation was already tense when the announcement of the survey was made public in mid-November.
🕊️ What Lies Ahead: Court, Community, and Political Fallout
The case has now become a flashpoint in UP’s pre-election climate, with the ruling BJP accusing the Samajwadi Party of harboring elements that “encourage violence,” while the SP claims the case is a “manufactured narrative” designed to vilify Muslims and suppress dissent.
The court has summoned all accused for hearings beginning July 10, 2025, and is expected to deliver initial rulings on framing of charges within a few weeks.
Meanwhile, local communities remain visibly divided. While some residents support the police action and demand justice for the injured officers, others are worried about a growing atmosphere of surveillance, mistrust, and fear.
📝 Conclusion
The Sambhal violence case, now being played out in court and public discourse, reflects a growing tension between religious identity, political power, and community trust. The coming weeks are likely to be crucial not only for those named in the chargesheet but for the socio-political fabric of Uttar Pradesh.
Whether the court finds sufficient ground to convict MP Barq and others, or whether this becomes another example of weaponized legal action, will be closely watched by national and international observers alike.
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