LUCKNOW: The Allahabad High Court, on Friday, stayed the arrest of Samajwadi Party’s Sambhal MP, Zia-ur-Rehman Barq, in connection with the communal violence that erupted in western Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district on 24 November last year.
The clashes broke out during a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era Jama Masjid in Sambhal, which was being conducted in compliance with a district court directive.
The violence occurred after members of the Muslim community protested against the survey, with the demonstration turning violent. Protestors resorted to stone-pelting and firing, which claimed five lives and left scores injured, including 20 police personnel.
Despite granting a stay on Barq’s arrest, the High Court refused to quash the FIR lodged against him. The FIR, registered at the Sambhal police station, named Barq for allegedly provoking violence during the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid.
A double bench of the High Court, comprising Justice Rajiv Gupta and Justice Azahar Husain Idrisi, passed the order to stay Barq’s arrest. This decision followed a petition filed by Barq, whose counsel Imran Ullah argued the case, while the additional government advocate represented the state.
In its order, the court stated that the investigation against Barq would continue and directed the MP to fully cooperate with investigators.
Meanwhile, a detailed survey report of Sambhal’s Shahi Jama Masjid—at the centre of a legal dispute following claims about the existence of a Harihar temple at the same location—was submitted in the Chandausi court on Thursday.
The 45-page survey report, which includes videography from all angles, was compiled during surveys conducted on 19 November and 24 November last year.
Court Commissioner Ramesh Singh Raghav, appointed as the advocate in the case, stated, “The survey was conducted according to the directions of the court, and the complete report, including videography, has been submitted to the Civil Judge, Senior Division, in a sealed envelope.”
Advocate Commissioner Raghav also submitted a three-page covering letter along with the survey report, which contains 60 photographs taken during the survey and related videography content.
Sambhal district government counsel Prince Sharma confirmed that the report could not be disclosed due to a Supreme Court order.