The three-member committee set up to investigate the November 2024 Sambhal violence submitted its 450-page report to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday, sources said. The document delves into the recent clashes, demographic changes since Independence, and a century-long pattern of communal disturbances.
The panel, headed by retired High Court judge Devendra Arora and comprising former IPS officers AK Jain and Amit Prasad, noted that Sambhal has witnessed 15 riots since 1947, including those in 1948, 1953, 1958, 1962, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1990, 1992, 1995, 2001, 2019, and the latest in 2024, according to sources.
At Independence, Hindus formed 45% of the municipal area population, with Muslims at 55%. Today, Hindus account for only 15–20%, while Muslims constitute around 85%, sources said. The report attributes the demographic shift to repeated communal clashes and “politics of appeasement.”
The November 2024 unrest erupted following a local court order to survey the Shahi Jama Masjid, amid claims of a temple previously standing at the site. Protests by converted Hindu Pathans escalated into clashes with Turks, resulting in cross-firing that killed four people. “This was the first time riots could not spread in Sambhal due to strict police action,” sources said.
Also read: Judicial panel submits Sambhal violence report to UP CM
The committee also flagged Sambhal as a past ground for terror groups including Al Qaeda and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. Cleric Maulana Asim alias Sana-ul-Haq, designated a global terrorist by the United States, is mentioned, alongside concerns over illegal arms and narcotics networks in the district.
Sambhal’s heritage sites have also suffered over time. Once home to 68 pilgrimage sites and 19 sacred wells, many have been encroached upon, the report notes. The state government has launched restoration efforts, with the Chief Minister laying the foundation for revival works on May 30, 2025.
The committee stressed that repeated communal incidents, demographic changes, and historical neglect have left Sambhal vulnerable to tension and violence, urging a combination of law enforcement and social interventions.
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