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8 cases dropped in 18 days, inspector failed to testify: Mulayam Singh govt’s controversial withdrawal of 1978 Sambhal riots cases under scrutiny

The 1978 communal riots in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, have come back under the spotlight as a government order issued in 1993 to withdraw eight out of 16 cases related to the riots has surfaced on social media. The order was issued by the then-Mulayam Singh Yadav government. The decision to withdraw the cases has sparked widespread outrage, particularly among the victims of the riots, who have accused the then government of denying them due justice.

Details of the controversial order

The order in question was signed by the then-special secretary RD Shukla and addressed to the Muradabad District Collector. It stated that the government under Mulayam Singh Yadav had decided to withdraw eight cases connected to the communal violence that erupted on 30th March 1978. Following the riots, 16 cases were initially filed by the police. The victims argued that the withdrawal of cases not only diluted justice but also erased their chance to hold the perpetrators accountable.

Source: Republic TV

Allegations against political leaders

There are allegations that those cases were withdrawn under the influence of senior politicians, including Azam Khan and former Sambhal MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq. Victims have asserted that political interventions in the cases favoured the accused while ignoring the devastation faced by the Hindu community during the riots.

One of the riot victims, Vishnu Sharan Rastogi, said in a statement that the violence began on 29th March 1978 in the early morning. Hindus faced widespread murders, arson, and destruction of commercial establishments. Several Hindu families were forced to flee the area. Another victim, Nitish Garg, said that his family’s shop was set on fire. They had to migrate in search of a safe location.

Riot files under investigation

Responding to the uproar, the Uttar Pradesh government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s leadership has directed the Muradabad district administration to reopen the case files. Media sources have revealed that 10 files related to the riots have been located so far. The records are being examined to identify if there were any lapses in the investigation process. Reports suggest that several cases were closed without recording statements from victims or conducting thorough investigations.

The records of the 1978 riots are available up to 1993. Officials have alleged that documentation of the case files beyond that period is missing. The administration has assured a fresh inquiry into all the cases, aiming to address the long-standing grievances of the victims.

Earlier this month, the Yogi government decided to reopen cases of Sambhal violence after a statement given by the CM in the state Assembly. CM Yogi highlighted, “In 1978, 184 Hindus were collectively burned alive, and a curfew was imposed for several months. Riots happened again in 1980-1982, leading to one death each year. In 1986, four people were killed, followed by five deaths between 1990-1992, and two in 1996. This pattern of violence continued.” Taking a jibe at the opposition, the Chief Minister stated, “Since 1947, 209 Hindus have been murdered in Sambhal, yet not a single word has been spoken in support of the innocent victims. Those shedding crocodile tears never said even two words for them.” He further remarked, “The Bajrang Bali temple in Sambhal, which is being uncovered today, was not allowed to open by these people since 1978.”

The horrific riots of 1978

Sambhal has a long history of riots. Over time, these riots became a means for the Muslim population to drive Hindus out of the Sambhal municipal area. In 1947, when India gained independence, Hindus made up 45% of the area’s population, while Muslims accounted for 55%. However, over time, the Hindu population in the region has dropped to 15-20%, and Muslims now account for 80-85%.

A Hindu teacher’s daughter was raped, and his wife was abducted

Media reports suggest that the riots began after Holi celebrations on 29th March 1978 and claimed 184 lives. This led to a month-long curfew in the area. At that time, Banwari Lal Goyal, a prominent businessman in Sambhal, was brutally murdered during the riots. In the same riots, the daughter and wife of a Hindu teacher were abducted and brutally raped by Manzar Shafi, who played a key role in inciting violence against Hindus. The teacher’s wife was later rescued by Hindus. The families of Banwari Lal Goyal and the Hindu teacher left Sambhal after the riots.

24 Hindus were burnt alive using tyres and sugarcane husk

When the riots broke out, Banwari Lal urged several Hindu shopkeepers to hide at his brother-in-law Murari Lal’s house. However, Muslim traders tipped off the rioters. A mob of Islamist rioters then broke the gates of Murari Lal’s house using a tractor and brutally killed 24 Hindus. They piled sugarcane husks and tyres around the dead bodies and set them on fire. The situation was so grim that many Hindus had to perform symbolic cremations of their loved ones using effigies at Brijghat.

Banwari Lal begged to be shot but was hacked to death

According to the internal report accessed by OpIndia, Banwari Lal went to the riot-affected area despite warnings from his wife and son. He told them, “All Muslims are like my friends and brothers. Everyone works with me. Nothing will happen to me,” and went to the area. When he reached the area, Muslim rioters captured him. The rioters then cut off his legs. Then taunted him, claiming he had come to collect money using his hands and then cut off his arms, and finally slit his throat.

During this torture, Banwari Lal begged the rioters to shoot him instead. However, his pleas were ignored. The horrific incident was witnessed by Hardwari Lal Sharma and Subhash Chandra Rastogi, who managed to save themselves by hiding inside a drum. During the massacre, Hardwari Lal’s brother, a high school student, was also killed by the rioters.

In 1995, Banwari Lal Goyal’s family permanently left Sambhal. According to the internal report, Banwari Lal’s family was pressured by former Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal, Dr Shafiqur Rahman Barq. His son, Zia-ur Rahman Barq, is currently an MP from Sambhal. Notably, he has been named in a case related to the violence in Sambhal that broke out on 24th November 2024 during the Jama Masjid survey.

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OpIndia Staff
OpIndia Staffhttps://www.opindia.com
Staff reporter at OpIndia

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