Sambhal Clerics Dismiss Violence Probe Report as ‘Misleading’

Muslim clerics in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal have rejected the findings of a judicial commission report on the 2024 communal clashes, calling its observations on demography and communal relations “misleading” and disconnected from ground realities.

After Friday prayers, several clerics questioned the report’s claims, particularly its estimate that Muslims constitute 85 percent of the district’s population. “There has been no significant change in population here. No major development or employment opportunities have altered the demographic balance,” one cleric said.

The 450-page report, submitted to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, outlines a demographic transformation in Sambhal since 1947, stating that the Hindu population has declined from about 45 percent at Independence to roughly 15–20 percent today. The commission links this trend to repeated communal tensions and appeasement policies over decades.

The report also documents 15 major communal riots in Sambhal since Independence, including the November 24, 2024, violence sparked by an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-mandated survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. The incident left four people dead and several others injured.

Raising security concerns, the commission cited possible infiltration by extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, the presence of foreign-made weapons, and threats to Hindu cultural heritage, including the unearthing of remnants believed to be from the historic Harihar temple.

Reacting on X, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asserted: “The double-engine government will not allow any demographic change. Anyone attempting this will face strict action.”

The Uttar Pradesh home department is currently examining the report and preparing targeted security measures along with cultural preservation initiatives. The report will likely be tabled before the state cabinet and later presented in the Assembly before being made public.