Team Clarion
SAMBHAL — A local court in Sambhal has acquitted Farhana Baizat, one of the four Muslim women accused in the deadly violence that erupted during a survey of the 500-year-old Shahi Masjid in November last year. The violent clashes led to killings of almost 5 people. While the police maintain that the deaths resulted from the actions of those opposing the survey, the victims’ families assert that police action was deliberate.
Farhana Baizat, arrested along with five others in late November, was accused of stone-pelting at the police from her rooftop during the violence. However, after a thorough investigation, the court found no evidence to substantiate the charges against her. The chargesheet filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Thursday runs over 1,200 pages, detailing the ongoing investigation into the incident.
Farhana’s lawyer, Ghani Anwar, praised the impartiality of the investigation. He expressed gratitude towards the police officials, including the police captain and the DIG of the area, who ensured a fair process. “The administration conducted the investigation impartially, and no evidence was found against Farhana,” Anwar said. Following the court’s decision, Farhana was released on a bond of Rs 1 lakh.
The violence in Sambhal last November had been a flashpoint in an already tense atmosphere surrounding the Shahi Masjid, with claims that it was a former Hindu temple. The violence that ensued saw scores of people arrested, including 79 individuals who remain in jail, while hundreds more remain at large. The police continue to search for these absconding suspects, many of whom have had posters displayed in public as part of an ongoing manhunt.
“About 2,500 to 3,000 people were involved in the violence that took place in Sambhal on November 24,” said Krishna Kumar, the Superintendent of Police. “79 individuals involved in the violence have been arrested so far, and posters have been put up for the remaining accused. The investigation is ongoing, and we are committed to bringing those responsible to justice.”
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.