Sambhal Violence: ‘Autopsy suggests bullets fired from country-made pistols’ | Bareilly News – Times of India

SAMBHAL: Divisional commissioner Aunjaneya Singh said on Monday that autopsy reports of those killed in Sunday’s clashes suggest that the victims died by bullets fired from country-made pistols.
“The cause of death in most cases was firearm injury possibly caused by 315 bore bullets. Such bullets are fired using country-made pistols, and the bullet wounds suggest that the bullets were shot from a very near location. Police personnel were mainly using pellet guns to disperse the crowd. Whether these people were killed by the bullets shot by another group of protesters is a matter of investigation.”
Singh added, “We have recovered videos in which a few masked men among the rioters were pelting stones. The deceased were shot from a very close distance while the police teams were far away from them. All these things are part of the investigation. A magisterial enquiry has also been ordered.”

Sambhal violence toll rises to 5

Two more individuals injured in the violent clashes on Sunday morning in Sambhal succumbed to their injuries on Monday, raising the death toll to five.
In connection with the incident, seven FIRs have been registered against over 2,500 people, including Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Zia-ur-Rahman Barq and Sohail Mahmood, the son of MLA Iqbal Mahmood. Authorities have detained 25 suspects and are identifying additional culprits using drone footage.
Internet services in Sambhal remained suspended, and schools were closed on Monday. Entry to the area has been restricted until December 1, and police sealed the vicinity around the Jama Masjid, the site of the clash, while conducting flag marches in sensitive zones.
Divisional commissioner Aunjaneya Singh stated, “FIRs have been registered against 15 identified individuals, while the rest of the accused are unidentified. The condition of one injured civilian and a police officer remains critical. Families of the deceased have been informed that they may file FIRs as well.” He added, “MP Zia-ur-Rahman Barq and the MLA’s son Sohail Mahmood are among the accused.”

Police accuse SP MP and MLA’s son of conspiracy

A senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “The SP MP made provocative statements, and the MLA’s son mobilized a crowd to attack the police and survey team. They were present at the mosque during the court-mandated survey on November 19 and returned on Friday. We have sufficient evidence suggesting this was a premeditated conspiracy, as the attackers stockpiled firearms and stones.”
The clashes began on Sunday morning when a mob threw stones at police and an ASI team conducting a court-ordered survey of the 16th-century Shahi Jama Masjid.
The survey was initiated following a petition alleging that Mughal emperor Babur had demolished a temple to construct the mosque.

SP chief criticises FIRs against Barq

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticized the FIRs against Barq, saying, “Barq wasn’t even in the district yet was named in the FIR.
Five individuals — Nayeem, Kaif, Numaan, Bilal, and Ayaan — lost their lives in police firing. This was a pre-planned conspiracy by the government to deflect attention from electoral malpractices during the bypolls.”