Is there an FIR against 12 policemen in Sambhal violence?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Sambhal (Uttar Pradesh), Jan 13 (NationPress) In a significant turn of events concerning the Sambhal violence incident, a local court has mandated that an FIR be filed against 12 police officers, inclusive of Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Anuj Chaudhary.
The ruling was issued by Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Vibhanshu Sudhir.
This case stems from accusations regarding police gunfire amid the unrest in Sambhal, where a 24-year-old individual was reportedly shot and critically injured. The court's order comes as a result of a petition lodged by the father of the victim, Yameen, who resides in the Khaggu Sarai Anjuman area under the jurisdiction of the Nakhasa police station.
In the petition, Yameen stated that his son, Alam, departed from their home on November 24, 2024, to sell rusk (toast). Upon reaching the vicinity of Shahi Jama Masjid, police allegedly discharged their firearms during the chaos, resulting in his son being critically wounded.
Yameen named several police officials, including the then CO Anuj Chaudhary and Inspector Anuj Tomar, as respondents in the case. The petition further claims that Alam received medical treatment while evading police capture and urged the court to register an FIR against the aforementioned officers and other unidentified personnel.
The CJM court convened on January 9, 2026, to deliberate on the matter and subsequently instructed the registration of an FIR against all implicated police officers.
At the time of the unrest, Anuj Chaudhary held the position of CO in Sambhal and is currently serving as ASP (Rural) in Firozabad district.
The violence erupted during a court-sanctioned survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, a historical mosque in Sambhal, conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). This survey was initiated following allegations that the mosque was constructed on the remnants of a Hindu temple purportedly destroyed during the Mughal period.
While the initial survey proceeded without incident, tensions escalated during the second phase when the mosque's wuzu khana (ablution tank) was drained, allegedly to assess its depth, igniting speculations that excavation work was taking place. Following the violence, police arrested 79 individuals, including three women, and a total of 12 separate FIRs related to the violence were filed at both Sambhal Kotwali and Nakhasa police stations.