In a significant legal development, a new Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed with the Allahabad High Court, demanding the filing of an FIR against key administrative figures in Sambhal, including the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, following recent violent incidents in the district. The PIL, initiated by the Hazrat Khawaja Garib Nawaz Welfare Association and represented by advocates Saher Naqvi and Mohd. Arif, also seeks the immediate arrest of these officials, citing their alleged direct involvement in the events that led to multiple fatalities.
The petition specifically points to an instance of police firing that resulted in four deaths, an action for which no responsible officers have been held accountable, according to the plea. The lack of action has prompted the petitioners to seek intervention from the High Court to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
This legal move adds another layer to the unfolding drama in Sambhal, where tensions escalated following a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era Jama Mosque. The survey was conducted to investigate claims by a group, including Mahant Rishiraj Giri, that the mosque was historically a temple site. The process, led by Advocate Commissioner Ramesh Chand Raghav under a contentious ex-parte order from Civil Judge Aditya Singh, sparked protests and subsequent clashes between the protestors and law enforcement.
In response to the violence, which saw protestors setting vehicles ablaze and throwing stones at police, who in turn used tear gas and batons, another PIL was previously filed. This earlier petition called for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe to explore the Uttar Pradesh government’s role in the disturbances, a probe to be overseen by a retired High Court judge.
The Supreme Court has also stepped into the fray, directing that the ongoing legal proceedings concerning the Shahi Jama Masjid at Chandausi be put on hold. Moreover, the court has ordered that the findings of the Advocate Commissioner’s survey be kept confidential until further notice.
