Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq has filed a petition in the Allahabad High Court for arrest protection related to violence in Sambhal, which followed a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, resulting in five deaths. Barq claims the charges against him are politically motivated, denying involvement and asserting he was in Bengaluru during the events.
Allahabad: Samajwadi Party leader and Member of Parliament Zia-ur-Rehman Barq has approached the Allahabad High Court, seeking protection from arrest in connection with a case registered against him following the violent clashes in Sambhal. The violence erupted after a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, leading to five deaths and several injuries.
Barq’s petition alleges that the charges against him are “politically motivated” and meant to harass him. He denies any involvement in the violence, accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh of targeting him with false allegations.
The Uttar Pradesh Police has claimed that Barq made provocative remarks during his visit to the mosque just days before the incident. However, Barq refutes this claim, stating in his plea that he was in Bengaluru at the time of the violence and the survey.
The clashes followed a November 19 civil court order directing an advocate commissioner to conduct a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. The survey was requested by advocate Hari Shankar Jain and others, alleging that the mosque was built over a demolished temple during the Mughal era.
The situation escalated on November 24, during a second survey attempt in Chandausi town, resulting in stone-pelting, vehicle torching, and police-protestor clashes. Four people reportedly died amid the violence.
Barq and Sohail Iqbal, son of local MLA Iqbal Mehmood, have been named in the FIR filed by UP police. Meanwhile, a plea seeking an FIR against police officials and the district magistrate in connection with the deaths remains pending before the High Court.
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