SP MP seeks quashing of FIR, stay of arrest in Sambhal violence case

Prayagraj: Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal, Ziaur Rahman Barq, filed writ petition pleading Allahabad High Court to quash FIR registered against him in the Sambhal violence case and to stay his arrest. In his petition, the MP pleaded innocence, saying he was wrongly implicated in the matter. According to his counsel, he was not present at the place of incident, yet he was named as accused in the FIR. The case is likely to be taken up by the court soon. Barq has been accused of instigating people which led to violence in which four people were killed and dozens got injured. Police alleged the MP's provocative speech was the reason behind violence during survey at Shahi Jama Masjid.
FIR was registered against Barq in connection with Nov 24 incident of violence during protests to oppose a court-ordered survey of Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid in UP's Sambhal district.
A suit was filed before the civil judge, Sambhal claiming that there was Harihar temple at the site where Shahi Jama Masjid was built. In the suit, a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal's Kot Garvi area had been sought. While entertaining the suit, civil judge, Sambhal had on Nov 20 directed advocate survey of Shahi Jama Masjid of Sambhal. On Nov 24, violence erupted after a team led by an advocate commissioner surveyed the Mughal-era Jama Mosque on the orders of the local court.