A court in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district has ordered police to register a criminal case against 12 police personnel, including senior officers, over their alleged role in a shooting incident during violence near the Shahi Jama Masjid in November 2024.
Those named include Anuj Chaudhary, who was then the circle officer of Sambhal and is currently posted as additional superintendent of police (rural) in Firozabad, and Anuj Tomar, the then station house officer of Sambhal Kotwali Chandausi. The order also directs registration of cases against several unidentified police personnel.
Anuj Chaudhary, a celebrated cop among Hindutva groups, made headlines after the violence for making anti-Muslim remarks in connection with the Holi celebration.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Vibhanshu Sudhir issued the order after hearing a petition filed by Yameen, a resident of the Khaggu Sarai Anjuman area.
Yameen alleged that his son, Alam, was shot by police during unrest in the Shahi Jama Masjid area on November 24, 2024, following police firing. According to the petition, Alam had stepped out to sell rusk and biscuits when he was caught in the violence and suffered a bullet injury.
At least five Muslims were killed in the violence, most of them by police firing, according to eyewitnesses and families.
The petitioner told the court that out of fear, his son underwent medical treatment while remaining in hiding, and later sought legal action against the officers involved.
After a hearing on January 9, the court directed that first information reports be registered against all named and unnamed officials.
Yameen’s lawyer, Advocate Chaudhary Akhtar Hussain, told Maktoob that the family was informed of the court’s decision on Tuesday evening, though a written copy of the order had not yet been received as it was issued late in the day.
The violence in Sambhal erupted during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid following a civil suit which claimed the mosque was originally a temple. The survey was conducted in two phases on November 19 and November 24, during which large crowds gathered, and protests escalated.
Police registered 12 cases across Sambhal Kotwali and Nakhasa police stations in connection with the violence, naming several individuals, including Samajwadi Party lawmaker Ziaur Rahman Barq and Suhail Iqbal, the son of SP MLA Iqbal Mahmood. Authorities said cases were filed against more than 2,200 people.
So far, police have sent 134 accused to jail, including Shahi Jama Masjid president and advocate Zafar Ali. Three women are also among those arrested. Police have also jailed three alleged associates of absconding gangster Shariq Satha — identified as Mulla Afroz, Waris and Ghulam — in connection with the case.
Zafar Ali was released from Moradabad jail in August 2024, after the Allahabad High Court granted him bail. He had been in custody since March 2024, spending 131 days in jail.
Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) facilitated the legal fight for accountability over police killings during the unrest. APCR’s Nadeem Khan welcomed the order, stating that they look forward to facilitating more families to come forward about the police violence on that day.
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