Samajwadi Party (SP) Member of Parliament Zia Ur Rehman Barq has alleged that Uttar Pradesh police were responsible for instigating the violence in Sambhal. Speaking on the violence, Barq claimed that his statement was based on evidence and criticized the authorities for mishandling the situation.

Four persons died of bullet injuries when a mob clashed with police during a court-ordered survey of the Jama Masjid that some petitioners had claimed had been built by demolishing a temple during the

Sambhal witnessed intense violence on Sunday when a large crowd assembled near a mosque and began chanting slogans as a survey team resumed its work.

A first information report was filed against Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rahman Barq and the son of a party MLA in connection with Sunday’s clashes.