The Allahabad High Court has refused to quash the first information report (FIR) against Zia-ur-Rehman Barq, a Samajwadi Party MP, tied to the unrest in Sambhal following a controversial court-ordered mosque survey.
A bench of Justices Rajiv Gupta and Mohd Azhar Husain Idrisi dismissed Barq’s petition, citing precedents from the Supreme Court that uphold the validity of FIRs disclosing prima facie evidence of cognizable offenses.
The court underscored that if Barq’s arrest proceeds, authorities must strictly follow legal provisions and adhere to guidelines established by the Supreme Court to ensure lawful procedures.
A Clash of Claims Amid Rising Tensions
The violence, which claimed five lives and left many injured, was sparked by the disputed survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal. The survey, ordered by a local civil court, had drawn allegations that the mosque was built over a demolished temple during the Mughal era. The incident escalated into communal clashes involving stone-pelting and vehicle torching.
Barq and Sohail Iqbal, son of local MLA Iqbal Mehmood, were named in the FIR. Authorities alleged that Barq made incendiary remarks during a visit to the mosque days before the unrest. However, in his defense, Barq insisted he was in Bengaluru at the time, denying any role in the events.
The MP further claimed the charges were politically motivated, accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of using the allegations as a means of intimidation.
Calls for Accountability
As tensions linger, a separate plea is pending before the High Court, seeking legal action against police officials and the district magistrate for their alleged role in the deaths during the violence.
This unfolding narrative exposes the deep fractures in a region grappling with its history, politics, and social divides, casting a long shadow over the rule of law and communal harmony.
