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Islamist in talks with Pakistani cleric admits stone-pelting on police in Sambhal, justifies violence accusing Hindus and administration of ‘disrespecting’ law

Muhammad Akil justified the stone pelting and said that the acts of Hindus and the local administration irked the Islamists who pelted stones on the former on Friday.

In a crucial development, an Islamist from the Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh confirmed that the community he pelted stones at the Hindus and police in Sambhal. The attack took place after a court-ordered survey of Shahi Jama Masjid on the plea of petitioners contending that the disputed site was originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Kalki. The Islamist identified as Muhammad Akil while in communication with Pakistan cleric Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza on YouTube live said that it was Friday and the Islamist mob was furious over the claims of a temple beneath the 300-year-old Masjid.

“A survey was conducted of a 300 to 400-year-old Masjid here in Sambhal after the non-Muslims made claims of a temple beneath it. Following this, the Muslims got furious and pelted stones at the administration and the non-Muslims to protect the interest of the site,” he asserted as he furthered to ask whether the Muslims who lost their lives in the scuffle would be termed as ‘martyrs’.

The video of the question was posted by an X handle named ‘Angry Saffron’ who said that Akil confirmed that the stone-pelting was initiated by the Islamists in Sambhal. OpIndia also independently verified the YouTube live video and learned that Md Akil not only confirmed the stone-pelting but also justified the Islamist stone-pelting.

In the video, Akil could be heard saying that the Islamist stone pelting forced the police to initiate firing at the mob which resulted in the death of 3-4 Muslims. He also said that the non-Muslims were illegally claiming ownership of the Masjid and stating that it was a temple. Akil basically justified the stone pelting and said that the acts of Hindus and the local administration irked the Islamists who pelted stones on the former on Friday.

Islamists justified stone-pelting, accused non-Muslims of taking the law into their own hands

Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza listened to the question posed by Akil asking whether 3-4 Muslims who died in the violence should be termed as ‘martyrs’. Answering this, Mirza said that every Muslim dying for religion shall be termed a ‘martyr’, however, he said that the Muslims should not take the law into their hands to protect any Islamic site. He said that the community must take the help of the local administration including the police to save the Islamic properties and not harm anyone for the claimed properties.

Responding to this, Akil argued that it was non-Muslims who allegedly took the law into their hands and eyed to encroach a ‘Muslim property’ claiming the presence of a temple beneath it. He said that even the state force was backing the non-Muslims which irked his community, forcing the latter to pelt stones at the administration and the non-Muslims.

What happened on 24th November?

It is crucial to note that on 24th November last year, massive violence erupted in the Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh after Islamists rioted and pelted stones against the police injuring more than 20 officers. The First Information Reports (FIRs) of this incident revealed how the mob targeted the police. While on one hand, the people associated with the perpetrators played victim, the FIR stated that a group of 700-800 Muslims gathered about 100 meters away from the structure at around 8:45 that morning.

The crowd then began raising slogans before turning violent. The boys also hurled stones at the cops making the police target. The official complaint filed by a sub-inspector posted in Kotwali Nagar, Sambhal added that the mob was determined to drive out the police team that had arrived to survey the contested mosque.

According to the sub-inspector, it was illegal in the district for more than five persons to congregate given the survey of the disputed site was underway. As a result, the police repeatedly advised the people to return home. However, the raging crowd remained unaffected by the appeals and kept pushing the policemen as they moved forward. The culprits continued to abuse the police personnel and threw stones at them during this period. According to the sub-inspector’s accusation, the Muslim radicals were targeting the police as part of a conspiracy that took a violent turn after November 24th.

Violence mastermind has connections to Dawood, 60 arrested

In the latest update to the case, the state police have arrested around 60 Islamists, including 4 women for their involvement in the stone pelting against the administration on 24th November. The police are on the lookout for 89 more accused who are still absconding. It has also been learned that the suspected mastermind of the violence in the given case Sharik Satha, is a member of Dawood Ibrahim’s gang.

Reports suggest that he has over 50 cases registered against him in various states. A few years ago, he reportedly fled to Dubai. Police believe that he not only provided funding for the Sambhal violence that took place on 24th November but also supplied weapons used by his operatives to carry out the attack. The intelligence unit in Sambhal has identified five more suspected terrorists with links to the area. Two key names that have surfaced during the investigation are Shahid Akhtar and Usman Hussain, who are suspected of facilitating the delivery of weapons and funding for the violence.

It is further crucial to note that the non-Muslims did not take the law into their own hands as allegedly claimed by Md Akil. However, it was the Muslims who took the law into their own hands by attacking the local administration and the non-Muslims to protect the contested site.

The Islamists earlier played victim claiming that the police had initiated firing killing and injuring some of the Islamists. Several videos of families of rioters had gone viral over the internet in which they could be seen accusing the administration of allegedly killing their relatives. However, Akil unknowingly in the live video posted a month ago revealed that it was Islamists who initially pelted stones at the police and non-Muslims resulting in defensive firing by the police. (Time frame: 37:00 ahead)

Court-ordered survey at Jama Masjid in Sambhal

On 19th November, a court-mandated survey was conducted at Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. The court ordered the survey in response to a petition filed by Supreme Court Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, and seven co-plaintiffs, asserting that the mosque occupies the site of a temple dedicated to Bhagwan Kalki. The site in question is a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act of 1904. A heavy police force was deployed in the area to ensure the survey proceeded peacefully.

However, on 24th November, during the second round of court-mandated survey at Jama Masjid, Islamist mobsters gathered outside the mosque and engaged in violence. They pelted stones at police, opened fire at police personnel, and set ablaze vehicles and shops. More than 20 policemen were injured.

Following this, the Supreme Court of India stayed the hearing in the District Court, Sambhal, in response to a plea filed by the Muslim side. Furthermore, the survey report submitted by the Advocate Commissioner has been ordered to be sealed and not to be opened till an order is passed by the High Court in the matter. A judicial committee was formed by CM Yogi Adityanath to investigate the cause of the violence.

Detailed coverage of the Sambhal violence and the Jama Masjid legal case can be read here.

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