The Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a judicial committee to probe the November 24 violence at the Sahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, which left four people dead. This follows the second round of surveys, conducted at the mosque, which saw peaceful prayers amid heavy police deployment on Friday.
“Appointed on November 27, the three-member panel comprising retired High Court judge DK Arora, retired IAS officer AK Jain, and Amit Mohan, another retired officer, will submit its report within two months,” Sambhal Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Bishnoi said.
As much as 11 FIRs were registered at several police stations in SambhalIncluding four filed by the families of those who lost their lives during the conflict. “For each FIR, an SIT committee consisting of an investigating officer, an assistant officer and a constable has been constituted and the report will be submitted soon. We will file the chargesheet in 90 days,” said IPS officer Anukriti Sharma, head of the SIT team.
About 500 people attended Friday prayers at the mosque, officials said. Drones and cameras manned by plainclothes police could be seen from afar.
“We have taken all precautions to maintain peace,” the SP said. He told The Indian Express that there was an input that there could be another round of violence so they were “extra vigilant”. “But everything happened peacefully, and the area is back to normal,” he said.
Friday prayers were offered at the mosque a day after Sambhal District Magistrate Rajendra Pensia called a peace meeting. “In the meeting, we asked the presidents of many mosques to ask people to pray in their own mosques and not come here,” he said. He said that the poster with the details of the identified persons could not be put up but it will be done soon.
Shops were open, but Muslim owners said buyers were not coming. “There has been a change from the wedding season, which was good for business,” said Hakeem Aftab, 58, a shoe shop owner.
However, some refused to go to Sahi Jama Masjid on Friday. “I would rather walk a kilometer to reach another mosque than go there,” said a man who did not want to be named.