Police take Sambhal mosque chief into custody a day before judicial commission hearing

According to police sources, Ali was picked up from his residence in Sambhal after the SIT probing the Sambhal violence allegedly found 'evidence' purportedly proving that Ali had delivered an 'inflammatory' speech on November 24 last year.

Lucknow: A day before he was scheduled to depose before the judicial commission set up to probe last year’s violence in Sambhal during a court-mandated survey of a mosque, in which four persons were killed, the police arrested the chief of the Jama Masjid, Zafar Ali, on Sunday.

According to police sources, Ali was picked up from his residence in Sambhal after the Special Investigating Team (SIT) probing the Sambhal violence allegedly found 'evidence' purportedly proving that Ali had delivered an 'inflammatory' speech on November 24 last year, the day violence had broken out in Sambhal.

Sources said that he would be produced before a local court in Chandausi.

Ali’s brother, Tahir Ali, accused the police of trying to vitiate the communal atmosphere in the town and claimed that his brother had no part in the violence. "My brother was scheduled to appear before the judicial commission on Monday, but the police intentionally arrested him a day before," he claimed.

Tension prevailed in the communally sensitive town after the arrest, and security personnel were deployed in strength to maintain order. Security personnel also staged a flag march in the town.

So far, the police have arrested 50 people in connection with the violence.

Four persons were killed in the violence in Sambhal during a court-mandated survey of the Jama Masjid last year. The mosque has been a bone of contention between Hindus and Muslims. Hindus claim that it was built after demolishing Harihar Temple, while Muslims reject the claim.