Police hold flag march ahead of Friday prayers in Sambhal
Sambhal: Police held a flag march in areas near the Shahi Jama Masjid on Thursday, a day before Friday prayers, with top officials saying watertight security was put in place to prevent untoward incidents.
The flag march was led by Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Srish Chandra. The police team marched through the busy markets that partially reopened on Thursday.
Most of the shops opened for the first time on Thursday since the November 24 violence over a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque that left four persons dead and several other injured.
“The situation is completely peaceful and normal,” ASP Chandra said.
Asked about the Friday prayers, he added, “Sufficient police force has been deployed and we are prepared to tackle any situation.”
The local police and the district administration has called a meeting with local Muslim clerics regarding the prayers.
Tension has been brewing in Sambhal since November 19 when a court-ordered survey of the mosque was carried out following claims that a Harihar temple previously stood at the site.
Violence erupted on Sunday as protesters gathered near the mosque and clashed with security personnel, leading to stone pelting and arson.
The advocate commissioner’s report of the survey is expected to be presented in court on November 29, where both parties will have the opportunity to respond.
Even though normality has started to returned to Sambhal, business owners in markets near the mosque claimed that they had been suffering losses since the incident.
Among the worst hit are shop owners in the bullion market, located about half a kilometre from the mosque.
Thirty police teams have been formed to identify and arrest the accused using CCTV camera footage.
More than 100 images of suspected rioters from the Kot Garvi area have been released.
Despite the markets and schools reopening, the Internet ban was extended by 48 hours on Wednesday as a “precautionary measure”. Police have arrested 31 people and registered seven FIRs. Among those named as accused are Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq, local Samajwadi Party MLA Iqbal Mehmood’s son Sohail Iqbal, and 2,750 unidentified individuals.
