Sambhal: On Sunday morning, 18-year-old Mohammed Kaif left for the market, where he worked at a shop that sells cosmetics. That was the last time his family saw him. After news of unrest near the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Kaif’s mother, Aneesha, set out in search for her youngest son, growing increasingly desperate as the hours passed. It wasn’t until late evening, after Maghrib namaz, that police officers arrived at their home with the devastating news: Kaif was no more.
Inside the house, Kaif’s elder brother, Mohammed Zaid, lay injured on a bed, his arms and hands covered in bandages. His wife, Farhana, and their mother tended to him. The women said that the police had forcibly detained Zaid earlier that day after storming their home in Sambhal’s Turtepura locality, following the riots. Gesturing toward the splintered front door, Aneesha said, “They broke the door and took him away. Later, the men of the house went to the police station and begged the police to let him go as his brother had died. They then released him,” said Aneesha.
Even as Aneesha recounted the story, Kaif’s father hurried into the room where Zaid was resting, silencing the women. Refusing to disclose his name, he said, “We’ve lost our son; no one can bring him back. Zaid got hurt when he fell. The door was already broken, but the police didn’t do anything. We have nothing more to say.” His words seemed like an attempt to shield Zaid from further scrutiny, but the women’s eyes betrayed the fear and grief they all shared.
“Abbu is right. I fell down,” said Zaid and laid down quietly with his eyes closed.
Neighbours and relatives tried to coax the father into sharing what really happened. However, he stood firm, shaking his head and saying, “I have to look out for my family.”
Tensions in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal escalated Sunday when violence erupted as survey teams returned to the Shahi Jama Masjid to conduct a second survey. The survey followed a court order issued on 19 November, based on a petition alleging that a temple was demolished in 1526 to build the mosque. While the first survey was conducted just hours after the court’s directive, the second visit sparked unrest, resulting in at least four deaths and multiple injuries, including among police personnel.
More than 25 people, including two women and several minors, have been detained so far. Advocate Zafar Ali, sadar (chief) of the mosque committee has also been detained by the police.
Seven FIRs have been lodged so far and Sambhal Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rahman Barq, and the son of local SP MLA Iqbal Mehmood have also been booked. Meanwhile, a heavy police deployment secures the area around the towering white gates of the Shahi Jama Masjid, as an atmosphere of tension and fear lingers. Internet services remain suspended, and local authorities have imposed prohibitory orders to maintain control.
Sambhal SP Krishan Bishnoi has confirmed four deaths so far in connection with the violence that broke out Sunday morning.
According to Zarra Hussain, a local, it was “misbehaviour” on the police officials’ part that started the violence. “It started with a verbal argument. It was only after they started hitting people with batons and lathis that the people retaliated with pelting stones,” she said.
Loss, fear & prayers
Like Kaif, 17-year-old Ayaan also left his home in Mohalla Courtpura on Sunday morning to head to his workplace, a restaurant called Hanif Biryani. He was accompanied by his neighbor and relative, 18-year-old Baseem, who also worked there. Both were injured during the riots. While Baseem is currently receiving treatment, Ayaan succumbed to his injuries. His family says they are still waiting to receive his body.
“After he completed studying the Quran, he got a job in the hotel. Both Ayaan and Baseem left home together. Later in the evening we were told Ayaan died. I shouldn’t have let him go to work Sunday morning. Who would have thought that the police would kill my young son,” Nafeesha, his mother, said in a shaky voice as she held his photo.
Just a few meters from Ayaan’s home, at Baseem’s house, his seven sisters were immersed in prayer. While one performed namaz, the others silently prayed with tasvi beads in hand.
Nayeem, Baseem’s father, a rickshaw puller sobbed. “He has been shot twice. He is still in danger. I just want my son to come back alive,” he said.
According to the police and the state authorities, rioters started pelting stones at the survey team after which the police teams resorted to “minimal force” with pellet guns, tear gas and smoke guns.
However, on ground, local residents and families of the victims said that it was the police that opened fire on the crowd leading to the deaths.
Responding to these allegations, SP Bishnoi said to ThePrint, “We had strict orders not to fire on anyone. Police teams only used pellet guns, smoke guns and tear gas to disperse the crowd. We are looking into the allegations and post mortems of the bodies are being conducted. We have recovered two .32 bore pistols, two .315 pistols, four country made weapons and knives from the houses of the accused.”
District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya had earlier told the media, “The reason for two of the deaths is clear—bullet wounds from country made pistols. The reason for the death of the third person is not clear but it will be after the post-mortem.” Since then, a fourth person died.
Among the others killed in the violence are Bilal and Nayeem.
Nayeem, 35, a father of four, ran a sweet shop.
Speaking to ThePrint, Tasleem, his brother said, “He had gone to the shop to get maida (flour) and a bottle of refined oil. We had no idea that violence had broken out. The lane to the market falls across the Jama Masjid area. While he was on his way, the police fired at him. The bullet passed through his chest. He told me before he died”.
Barely 2 km from Nayeem’s house lives Farman with his wife, mother and sisters. He is among those detained by the police.
“My brother was feeding our buffaloes. Two men came running with the police giving them chase. While detaining them, they also picked up our brother,” Farheen, one of Farman’s sisters, said. According to the family, Nayeem and Farman are related.
While the initial stone pelting outside the mosque was controlled by 11 am, according to the police, in another area, Nakhasha, rioting started again which was contained after 1 pm.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
Also read: India’s amnesia on women survivors of 1984 Sikh riots isn’t natural. It’s a privilege
Injustice in history will be answered by God . Advice to both communities please dont resort to revenge. It will only lead to a civil war and everyone will loose.
Police personnel did not die, although they were injured. There should probably have been some acknowledgment of that in this article.
Having said that:
Rioting and heavy-handed police responses – both are not new to India. I am, however, disappointed that so many comments lack compassion or empathy. Just as the mother of a policeman weeps for her fallen son, the mother of a young man who died in a riot will cry. Both are victims of politics based on religious and communal division. Both are pawns; just like us, who seem to believe now the politicians and social media pundits who feed us emotionally charged stories based on the communal divide for votes or views.
Every Parent will say that when they attack the police,Killed by their friends who created Riots & Police won’t use country made weapons
Yes so true funny how many police personnel died btw
lots of people ventured out to work that fateful day as evident from videos doing the rounds. it is a cruel coincidence that everytime rioting happens, we hear tales of victimhood. far more security personnel were injured due to stone pelting. is that gainful employment now ?
Tragic. Provides a partial answer to the anguished query, What will be my legacy. Who better than the author of the Ayodhya verdict to uphold the majesty of the Places of Worship Act, 1991.