Sambhal Violence: UP Govt Plans Recovery Of Damages From Rioters; Akhilesh Yadav Lashes Out

New Delhi: Hours after Uttar Pradesh Police released photographs of alleged stone-pelters, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday claimed that the clashes at Sambhal were “induced” to “deviate” people from the EVM issue.

“… they (BJP) have won elections by putting pressure on officials and hence they have induced this riot (in Sambhal) to deviate people… They use machinery to get votes. If a forensic investigation of EVMs is done, if there is any such investigation, you’ll get to know that only one person has cast many votes… This conflict is between Lucknow and Delhi. Those who are in Lucknow want to go to Delhi and in the conflict between Lucknow and Delhi – the brotherhood of Uttar Pradesh is getting destroyed,” he told ANI.

He also lashed out at the CM Yogi Adityanath-led UP government for releasing the photos of alleged rioters. “If the government is releasing pictures, they should issue the pictures of BJP supporters who were there during the survey and raised slogans… BJP doesn’t run based on Samvidhaan but ‘Man Vidhaan’,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Akhilesh had urged the Supreme Court to take cognisance of allegations that the Uttar Pradesh police threatened the kin of a Sambhal violence victim and took their thumb impression on a blank piece of paper. “Threatening someone and taking their thumb impression on a blank paper is also a crime. The honourable Supreme Court should take immediate cognisance and punish all those responsible for this incident by taking punitive action against the guilty government and administration,” he posted on X.

The Uttar Pradesh government is also planning to recover the cost of damages to public property from protesters. “The UP government is adopting a firm stance against the individuals involved in the Sambhal violence. Posters of the stone pelters and miscreants will be displayed publicly, and recovery of damages will be sought. A reward may also be announced for information leading to their arrest,” news agency PTI reported, quoting an official spokesperson.

Meanwhile, security remained tight in Sambhal, where four people were killed after violence erupted during a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque in the Kot Garvi area on Sunday (November 24). So far, 27 people, including 3 women and as many juveniles, have been arrested, and 7 FIRs, four of which are against families of the deceased, registered in connection with the violence. Sambhal MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and Sohail Iqbal, the son of MLA Iqbal Mehmood – both from the Samajwadi Party (SP) – have also been booked for alleged complicity in the riots.

Police have maintained that it was a pre-planned attack.

A Magisterial enquiry is underway into the violence and footage from CCTVs and drones is being scanned to identify the perpetrators.