☰
Police have arrested Zafar Ali, Shahi Jama Masjid president, for allegedly inciting riots during the November 24 clashes over a court-ordered mosque survey Sambhal violence case. Authorities claim he played a key role.
Zafar Ali, president of the Shahi Jama Masjid committee in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, was arrested on Sunday in connection with the violence that erupted on November 24, 2024, during a court-ordered survey of the mosque.
| Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh | Jama Masjid Sadar Chief & Shahi Mosque Committee Chief, Zafar Ali, brought at Chandausi Court
He was taken into custody by the SIT team of the Sambhal police in connection with the November 24 Sambhal violence. pic.twitter.com/EzusDkdbxW
The chief of Jama Masjid Sadar Chief & Shahi Mosque Committee Chief was brought at Chandausi Court.
He was taken into custody by the SIT team of the Sambhal police in connect with the November violence.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS
Sambhal riots — Jama Masjid President Zafar Ali & his son ARRESTED after INTENSE interrogation 🔥
— Yogi Adityanath is in NO MOOD to spare any rioters of Sambhal violence 🎯 pic.twitter.com/ojUYTYmMUt
The Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid became the center of controversy following a petition alleging it was built on the site of an ancient Hindu temple. This led to a court-mandated survey on November 24, 2024, which sparked protests from the local Muslim community. Approximately 1,000 protesters gathered to oppose the survey, leading to clashes with the police. The ensuing violence resulted in four fatalities and numerous injuries, including among police personnel.
Also read: UAE, Dawood Ibrahim, ISI link: UP Police's 4,400-page chargesheet on Sambhal riots names 79 accused
On March 23, 2025, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) detained Zafar Ali for questioning regarding his alleged role in the November violence. Sambhal Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar Bishnoi confirmed the arrest, stating that evidence indicated Ali played an incendiary role during the unrest.
Ali has denied the allegations, asserting, "I did not incite any violence." He was previously detained on November 25, 2024, a day after the violence, but was released following interrogation.
The November 24 incident has heightened communal tensions in Sambhal. In response, authorities imposed measures such as closing schools, suspending internet services, and prohibiting public gatherings to maintain order.
The Shahi Jama Masjid case is part of a broader national discourse on historical religious sites. Hindu activist groups, often linked to the ruling party, claim several mosques were built over Hindu temples during the Mughal era. This narrative gained momentum after the inauguration of a Hindu temple in Ayodhya, constructed on the former site of the Babri Masjid, demolished in 1992.
Also read: Sambhal DM, SP celebrate Holi today with colors, dance, and tradition; WATCH viral video
The ongoing investigation into the Sambhal violence continues to stir debates on historical grievances and their impact on contemporary communal relations in India.
subscribe to Asianet Newsable WhatsApp channel by clicking here.