Sambhal violence: Police arrest 10 more people; 70 held so far
Sambhal: Police on Sunday arrested 10 more people in connection with the November 24 violence near the Shahi Jama Masjid in this Uttar Pradesh district, officials said.
With this, 70 people have so far been arrested in connection with the incident, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Srish Chandra said.
Those arrested were Tahzeeb, Azhar Ali, Asad, Danish, Suhaib, Alam, Mohammad Danish, Shane Alam, Bakir and Mulla Afroz, the officer said, adding that they were nabbed after police scanned CCTV footage and photographs that had gone viral on the social media.
The ASP said Afroz, son of Afzar, is a active member of the Sarik Sata gang that is involved in vehicle and arms trafficking.
He was reportedly present at the scene during the commotion and had allegedly fired at the police party during the chaos.
The bullets struck several individuals, including Bilal and Ayan, who succumbed to their injuries.
Police have seized a .32-bore pistol, three live cartridges and 15 blank cartridges from Afroz's possession.
The arrested accused have been sent to jail, Chandra added.
On November 19, a court in Sambhal had passed an ex-parte order for a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid by an advocate commissioner, following a plea filed by Hindu petitioners that claimed that the mosque was built by Mughal emperor Babur in 1526 after demolishing a temple.
During a second round of survey of the mosque on November 24 last year, protesting locals clashed with security personnel, leading to the violence that led to the deaths of four people and injuries to dozens.
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Suspected hooch leaves 7 dead in dry Bihar, probe ordered
Bettiah: Seven people died allegedly after drinking spurious liquor in dry Bihar's West Champaran district, prompting the administration to order an inquiry, a police officer said on Sunday.
The police came to know about the deaths on Sunday, though the first fatality occurred four days ago and the bodies of all seven were already cremated, the officer said.
District Superintendent of Police Shaurya Suman said all the deaths were reported from the Lauriya police station area.
Locals blamed the deaths on consumption of spurious liquor, but the SP asserted that the reason behind at last two fatalities was not hooch.
One had been hit by a tractor, while another had suffered a paralytic attack, Suman said.
“The first death took place on January 15 though we came to know about the episode only today. The cause of the remaining five deaths was unclear as all seven bodies were cremated before the police were informed. We have set up an investigation team to find out the cause of the deaths,” Suman told PTI.
West Champaran’s Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC), Sumit Kumar said it is difficult to ascertain the cause of the deaths as all the bodies were cremated.
"The investigation team was directed to submit its report within 24 hours,” Kumar told PTI.
The team will also ascertain the identity of those who died in the last three or four days in Lauriya, he added.
A family member of one of the deceased said, “My brother Pradeep consumed liquor with his friend Manish. Both died”.
The sale and consumption of alcohol was banned in Bihar by the Nitish Kumar government in April 2016.
