- विज्ञापन -
New Delhi: A Sambhal court is set to hear the bail plea of Zafar Ali, president of the Shahi Jama Masjid Management Committee, on Thursday. Ali was arrested on Sunday for allegedly inciting violence in a protest related to the Shahi Jama Masjid. His arrest follows unrest in Sambhal over a court-mandated survey of the mosque.
Ali is accused of being involved in a criminal conspiracy linked to the violence that occurred on November 24, 2024, resulting in four deaths and numerous injuries. The police have charged him with inciting rioters, fabricating evidence, and other offenses.
In response to Ali’s arrest, the area around the Shahi Jama Masjid has been heavily secured with the deployment of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel. CCTV and drone surveillance are being used to monitor the city.
Ali faces charges including rioting, obstructing public servants, endangering public safety, and damaging property. His arrest is connected to one of 12 FIRs filed against 159 individuals after the riots. Police allege that Ali played a pivotal role in orchestrating the violence, which was sparked by his opposition to a proposed survey by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at the mosque. This survey was abruptly halted on November 19, 2024.
The riots involved gunfire, stone-pelting, and arson, with incidents reported in Nakhasa Tiraha, Kotgarvi, and Hindupura Kheda. Following the violence, many families fled the area, and around 300 properties remain locked. Authorities suspect that rumors about the demolition of properties led to panic selling, which was exploited by individuals with criminal intentions to seize land.
