Sources claim that Turkish and Pathan rivalry was behind the incident that resulted in the death of four people – India TV

During the investigation carried out at Jama Masjid in Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh, it was revealed that the recent violence was shockingly attributed to a pre-planned power struggle between the Turkish and Pathan communities. In the bloody clash, four persons, all reportedly supporters of Pathan MLA Iqbal Mahmood Ansari, were killed. Sources claim that the violence stems from deep-rooted tensions, and that the discourses of “Pathan against Turks” and “foreigners against locals” further increase the unrest.

How did the violence arise?

According to sources, the violence broke out when supporters of Turkish community MP Ziaur Rahman Barq allegedly opened fire on supporters of Pathan MLA Iqbal Mahmood Ansari. The dispute resulted in the death of individuals from the Pathan, Saifi and Ansari communities. Investigations revealed that the victims were civilians and MLA supporters; No casualties were reported from police interventions. Authorities believe the rivalry is an attempt by both communities to outdo each other politically and socially.

Legal action against MP and MLA’s son

So far, seven cases of violence have been registered and 25 people have been arrested. The names of Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ziaur Rahman Barq and SP MLA Iqbal Mahmood’s son Suhail Iqbal have come forward as accused in the case. According to the statement of the injured sub-inspector Deepak Rathi, a case was filed against 800 people with the names of Barq and Suhail Iqbal.

The tension that led to the incident

According to Sambhal Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishna Kumar Vishnoi, tensions were further escalated by MP Barq’s alleged provocative statements regarding the protection of Jama Masjid. Barq had earlier been issued a notice under Section 168 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for inflammatory statements. The violence that broke out during an investigation in the Jama Masjid turned into stone rain and gunshots between two groups.

The police’s perspective on the incident

SP Vishnoi explained that the violence was due to increasing tensions between the Turkish and Pathan communities. The ongoing investigation at the mosque became the flashpoint of the conflict. Police claimed that their actions did not result in any deaths, emphasizing that those who died were civilians caught in the crossfire of social rivalry.