The Special Investigation Team of Uttar Pradesh Police, on Sunday, arrested chairman of Sambhal’s Shahi Jama Masjid managing committee, Zafar Ali, in connection with the November 24 violence.
Superintendent of Police of Sambhal, Krishna Kumar Bishnoi, said that Zafar Ali was arrested in connection with the November 24 violence. He did not elaborate further.
The Mughal-era mosque in Sambhal has become the centre of a major controversy after a petition claimed it is the site of an ancient Hindu temple. The UP town has been tense since protests erupted against a court-ordered survey of the mosque on November 24 last year. Four people were killed and several others, including policemen, were injured in the violence.
According to the report, the SIT had filed a charge-sheet of over 4,000 pages in six of the 12 cases of the Sambhal violence that took place on November 24. According to the charge-sheet, there were a total of 159 accused in the case. It also mentions that the weapons recovered from the site of violence and other places were manufactured in the United Kingdom, USA, Germany and Czech Republic.
No other incident of violence has been reported in the area since November last year and the police also maintained tight security during Holi celebrations by conducting flag marches.
Authorities and locals celebrated Holi peacefully along with Friday prayers of the Muslim community. The Jama Masjid was also covered with tarpaulin to prevent any colour from falling on it, or vandalism.
