Sambhal, UP: – The Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) has submitted chargesheet in six cases related to the November 24 protest against the mosque survey in Sambhal. The chargesheet, totaling over 4,400 pages, were submitted on Thursday in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Archana Singh.
According to officials, the investigation has revealed that Shariq Satha, a native of Sambhal who is believed to be in the UAE, orchestrated the protest. The chargesheet name 79 accused, all of whom are currently in jail, under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). So far, 76 Muslims, including four women, have been arrested for allegedly pelting stones at the police from rooftops.
The protest on November 24 erupted when an ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) team arrived to survey the historic Shahi Jama Masjid. They were accompanied by a Hindutva mob chanting “Jai Shri Ram,” which escalated tensions as local Muslims gathered outside the mosque. Police resorted to force and opened fire on the protesters, resulting in the killing of six Muslim men and injuries to several others.
While police authorities claim the protesters were rioters who provoked the police, the chargesheet allege that Shariq Satha, who had previously operated a car theft gang responsible for stealing over 300 vehicles from Delhi-NCR, was linked to Dawood Ibrahim and Pakistan’s ISI. The document states that Satha fled the country using a fake passport.
The police have registered eight FIRs in connection with the violence. The chargesheet were submitted by Circle Officer Kuldeep Kumar and Additional District Government Counsel Hari Om Prakash.
