The UP government has given the entire responsibility to the administration to change not only the history of Sambhal but also its geography. The police action was such as if there was some enmity. MP Ziaur Rahman Barq was given electricity bill and fine for the period when there was probably no electricity station there.
तो क्या संभल के मुसलमानों के खिलाफ पुलिस-प्रशासन ने छेड़ी चौतरफा जंग! कार्रवाई दुश्मनी जैसी
Every year, on the first Tuesday after Holi, a security cover is put up in front of the Sambhal police station. On that day, the historic three-day “Neza Mela” is held in the city, which culminates near the shrine of Syed Abdul Rahman on Hasanpur Road. This fair contains the entire history of Sambhal’s ups and downs. During this time, that past comes to the fore in a dramatic re-enactment, with the latest and only change being that the Uttar Pradesh government now wants to change the script.
The situation in Sambhal may not be as serious as in war-torn Gaza, but the police action may certainly seem inspired by Israeli military operations. After the death of four youths in the firing on November 24, the administration has not shown any leniency towards the residents here. With the way complaints of harassment are increasing, there is talk that the Chief Minister of the state wants to restore Sambhal’s ‘ancient glory’ by erasing its history and turning it into another holy city for the majority community. Terrorizing Muslims to migrate may be the first step in that direction.
Ever since the mosque survey controversy, the police have been conducting door-to-door raids to arrest the accused. Houses and shops are being demolished in the name of encroachment. Housing schemes are being investigated. People’s electricity connections, land registries, shop registrations, GST returns and even their professional and political affiliations are being checked. Overall, the government seems to be taking revenge for the attack on Sambhal by Salar Masood Ghazi in the 11th century through its dealings with the local Muslim community.
The story of Salar Masood Ghazi
There are many stories about Salar Masood Ghazi. One story is about the kidnapping of the daughter of a relative of Mahmud Ghaznavi by the then king of Sambhal, Jai Singh. To take revenge, Ghaznavi sent his seventeen-year-old nephew Salar Masood to Sambhal. A war took place and the Rajputs won the first attack. A flagpole in front of the Sambhal police station commemorates this incident every year. However, a week later Salar attacked again and emerged victorious. The three-day “Neza Mela” is held to commemorate the same battle and Salar’s victory. During these three days, the newlywed brides of the city dress up and honor the memory of Salar Masood.
Sambhal is a historic city with a predominantly Muslim population, with a large number of Turks, Afghans and Syeds. However, most of those killed or injured in the police action on November 24 were from the Pasmanda community. This is also surprising because the BJP shows concern for the Pasmanda population and wants to convert them into its vote bank. However, the attitude of the District Magistrate, Police Captain and DSP of Sambhal so far shows that the government has entrusted them with the responsibility of taking revenge for Salar Masood Ghazi’s 11th century victory. The language they are using openly seems to indicate that they do not consider themselves public servants but religious warriors.
Police action
Shahida Begum alleges that her family members were wrongly arrested by the police and treated inhumanely on the basis of religion. She asks whether the police targeted them because they had supported the Samajwadi Party in the last election? They were “brutally assaulted and language full of religious hatred was used.”
Is this what democracy is like? Samajwadi Party MP from Moradabad Ruchi Vira claims that “the administration is oppressing people and not allowing us to meet the victims. This is inhuman and undemocratic.”
The police have made more than fifty arrests since the violence in Sambhal on November 24. Their families claim that the police not only broke into their homes and vandalised them, but also targeted people who had no connection with the incident. Questions are also being raised on the role of the SP and DSP. A woman, who declined to be named, said the SP-DSP were acting on the basis of religious bias – “The DSP is seen roaming around the city with a mace, seen with those who are involved in all this and is targeting anyone who dares to speak up.”
The police have detained around 55 people for allegedly pelting stones and targeting on-duty officers. Sambhal Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Bishnoi says, “So far 54 suspects, including six women, have been arrested who pelted stones at the police from rooftops that day. 91 more criminals involved in the violence are on the radar of the Sambhal police. They are hiding in other states or living with relatives in nearby districts. We will go to court for non-bailable warrants to speed up arrests, no one will be spared.”
The police action is as if there is some enmity. This is what the action against Sambhal MP Ziaur Rahman Barq seems to indicate. Rehman claims that on the day of the incident he was in a meeting of the Muslim Personal Law Board in Bengaluru. He was made an accused even though he was not in Sambhal and the administration issued a notice to demolish his house. He was given electricity bill and fine for the period when there was probably no electricity station in Sambhal. Obviously there are political reasons behind this.
Temple, excavation and politics
The Supreme Court has stayed the action related to the Jama Masjid survey in Sambhal till further orders, but the administration does not seem to be in a mood to sit quiet. Temples are being searched even in those houses which were sold by Hindu families to Muslims years ago. The administration
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