A three-member judicial panel, headed by retired Allahabad High Court judge Devendra Kumar Arora, submitted its report on the November 2024 Sambhal violence to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday. The findings show that the Hindu population in Sambhal has fallen sharply from 45 per cent at Independence to just 20 per cent now. The commission said years of communal clashes and political appeasement have significantly altered the district’s demographics.
Key Findings from the Sambhal Report
The report shows that Hindus now make up only 20 per cent of Sambhal’s population. Since Independence, the district has experienced 15 communal riots. Sambhal has also become a base for several terrorist groups, with Maulana Sanaul Haq being declared a global terrorist by the US. Illegal arms and narcotics networks are active in the region.
Planned Attacks on Hindus
The inquiry revealed a shocking detail: the November 2024 violence included a premeditated plan to target Hindus. Rioters were reportedly brought from outside the district to escalate the clashes. However, police presence in Hindu-majority areas prevented large-scale killings. A violent clash occurred between Turk Pathans and converted Hindu Pathans over internal disputes, leading to four people being killed in the firing.
Violence Was Pre-Planned
The report highlights that the November 22, 2024, speech by local MP Zia-ur-Rahman Barq acted as a trigger. He allegedly declared during a gathering, “We are not servants; we are the proprietors of this country.There has always been and always will be a mosque.Another Ayodhya will not be permitted here.Fights broke out between 24 groups from the Pathan and Turk populations two days later. The commission found that the violence was planned and not sudden. MP Zia-ur-Rahman Barq, MLA’s son Suhail Iqbal, and important members of the Intizamia Committee were named as the main organisers behind the unrest.
Sambhal Violence 2024
The Sambhal violence on November 24, 2024, was among the most serious communal incidents in Uttar Pradesh in recent years. Tension following a controversial remark sparked the unrest, which swiftly turned into significant fights between the Turk and Pathan communities. The violence left four dead and the town deeply divided, with illegal arms and organised gangs playing a major role in the unrest.
