Sambhal riots accused Samajwadi MP moves High Court: Ruling party vengeful

Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq has approached the Allahabad High Court seeking a stay on his arrest.

In connection with the violence that erupted in Sambhal during a court-mandated survey of a mosque. In his plea, Barq has also requested the quashing of the FIR lodged against him.

In his petition, Barq argued that his arrest would cause him “irreparable loss” and claimed that the charges against him were politically motivated. Denying any connection to the violence, which left five people dead and several injured, the Sambhal MP alleged that the ruling party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh was “vengeful” against him, aiming to harass and intimidate him through false accusations.

Barq and local MLA Iqbal Mehmood’s son Sohail Iqbal are among those named in the FIR in the violence case. Police have alleged that Barq visited the Shahi Jama Masjid days before the violence and made provocative remarks that led to the incident.

Barq claimed that he was not in Sambhal at the time of the violence or the survey and was, in fact, in Bengaluru. He said that he intended to return to Sambhal to pacify the community members but chose to stay in Delhi after learning about the FIR against him. However, Barq claimed he attempted to reach out to people over the phone.

Violence broke out in Sambhal after a local court ordered a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid following claims that a temple previously stood at the site. Stones were pelted at security personnel and vehicles were torched, leaving over 20 cops injured.

Last month, the Supreme Court paused proceedings in the trial court in Sambhal in the mosque survey case till the masjid committee approached the High Court. The top court also directed that the mosque survey report should be kept in a sealed cover and not be opened in the meantime.