Facing FIRs over the deadly violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal city, Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq and Nawab Suhail Iqbal, son of SP legislator Iqbal Mehmood, on Monday denied any wrongdoing and accused the administration and police of mishandling the situation, which led to the deaths of four people.
MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq told IANS, “I have been booked in a false case by the police, who are trying to hide their own failure.”
Barq and Nawab Suhail Iqbal were named in seven FIRs filed by the Uttar Pradesh Police against 400 people for the violence on Sunday.
The unrest left four people dead and dozens injured, including 22 police personnel, during protests against a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid. The survey was prompted by a petition claiming the mosque was constructed in 1529 after demolishing a Hindu temple.
Barq asserted his innocence, stating, “I was not even in Sambhal when the violence occurred. I was attending a meeting of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board in Bangalore.” He also demanded action against the policemen responsible for what he described as the killing of innocent youths.
Denying allegations of delivering inflammatory speeches, Barq claimed he had previously intervened to prevent violence when an earlier survey attempt was made.
Similarly, Nawab Suhail Iqbal denied his involvement in the violence, saying, “Show me any video or photo that proves I was present at the site.” He added that he had stayed home as directed by the administration and even attempted to convince people to cooperate with the survey team.
Iqbal confirmed visiting the mosque in the morning to convey his father’s message, urging people to cooperate with the court-ordered survey team. He emphasized that he had not delivered any speech inciting communal hatred.
Advocate Zafar Ali, representing the Jama Masjid in Sambhal, also claimed that neither the MP nor the MLA’s son was present at the scene of the violence. “The SDM and police officials are to blame for the deaths of four people,” he said, adding that the survey team found nothing objectionable during its inspection.
Police sources reported that at least 25 individuals, including two women, have been detained or arrested in connection with Sunday’s violence. Protesters allegedly torched vehicles and pelted stones, prompting police to use tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowd.
SP MP Awadhesh Prasad expressed grief over the incident, calling it “heartbreaking and painful” and accused the BJP of inciting unrest to divert attention from electoral issues. He defended Barq, stating, “The MP was with us at the time of the violence. This is a baseless case aimed at silencing him in Parliament.”
(Inputs from IANS)