Sambhal Violence News: A month after the violence that took place on November 24 in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, the situation has now become normal. During this period, the police have arrested more than 50 accused involved in the violence and sent them to jail. However, the police investigation has revealed an important angle—the connection of the Sambhal violence to terrorism and Pakistan.
Sambhal Police is investigating the Pakistan-related terrorism angle in the violence on the basis of intelligence department reports and clues found in the investigation. Many shocking facts have emerged in the investigation so far.
Connection of Pakistani cartridges and terrorism
During the violence on November 24, the FSL team had recovered cartridges made in Pakistan’s ordinance factory from the incident site. This is a big clue, which opened the way for investigation into terrorism and Pakistan-linked networks in the violence.
- Police has started investigating the files which are related to the youth of Sambhal going to Pakistan and Afghanistan and joining terrorist organizations.
- Police suspect that terrorists from Sambhal present in Pakistan may be involved in the supply of weapons used in the violence.
Suspicion of funding from Pakistan for violence
According to intelligence sources of Sambhal Police,
- Funds for violence are suspected to be supplied from Pakistan.
- According to intelligence documents, Shariq Satha, who lives in Dubai and is a member of Dawood Ibrahim’s gang, does terror funding in India through Hawala.
- There are more than 50 cases registered against Shariq Satha. Police suspect that he may have funded the Sambhal violence.
Names of terrorists associated with Sambhal and their connections
Terrorists of Deepa Sarai area
- Saeed Akhtar:
- Disappeared since 1998, currently active in Afghanistan.
- Fighter associated with Al Qaeda.
- Osman Hussain:
- In 1999, he went to Pakistan and took training from Harkat-ul-Mujahideen.
- Active in Afghanistan and Pakistan since 2012.
terrorists of nakhasa area
- Sharjeel Akhtar:
- Absconding since 2012.
- Currently an active member of Al Qaeda.
keep an eye on former terrorists
- Mohammad Asif and Zafar Mahmood:
- Both the terrorists have spent 7 years in jail for recruiting youth into Al Qaeda.
- Recently returned to Sambhal after being released from jail in 2023.
- Police suspect that he may have played a role in mobilizing the crowd for violence.
Background and events of the violence
Survey of Shahi Jama Masjid
- The survey of Shahi Jama Masjid started on 19 November.
- During this, MP Zia Ur Rehman and MLA Mahmood Iqbal’s son Suhail Iqbal reached there with 200 supporters.
- The survey stopped due to darkness.
Stone pelting and firing on 24 November
- During the survey on 24 November, there was stone pelting and firing on the survey team.
- More than a thousand people gathered there, most of whom had their faces covered.
- Illegal weapons were also used during the violence.
huge loss caused by violence
There was heavy damage to government and private properties during the violence:
- Total loss: ₹1.15 crore.
- Electricity Department: ₹58 lakh.
- Municipal Council: ₹22.5 lakh.
- Police vehicle and CCTV: ₹35 lakh.
Sambhal’s old connection with terrorism
Maulana Asim alias Sana Ul Haq
- Killed by American forces in 2019.
- In 2014, Al Qaeda was made the head of the Indian subcontinent.
- He was a resident of Deepa Sarai locality of Sambhal.
Al Qaeda and youth recruitment
- According to intelligence reports, Mohammad Asif went to Waziristan in 2012 and recruited youth into Al Qaeda.
- In 2015, Asif and Zafar Mehmood were arrested by Delhi Police.
Files of youth going to Pakistan are being opened
The police investigating the Sambhal violence are examining the files of youth who went missing from Sambhal and went to Pakistan in the last 20–25 years.
- The arrested accused are being interrogated to find out whether these youth are related to violence and terrorism or not.
