Sambhal Police moves HC to quash FIR order against 12 cops in riots shooting case

Bareilly: Sambhal Police has moved Allahabad high court challenging a Jan 9 order by then chief judicial magistrate Vibhanshu Sudhir, directing registration of an FIR against 12 police personnel in connection with alleged police firing during violence in Sambhal on Nov 24, 2024. Additionally, a separate petition was filed in HC by then Sambhal circle officer Anuj Chaudhary.SP (Sambhal) Krishan Kant Bishnoi confirmed that a revision petition has been filed seeking to set aside the CJM's directive. "A revision petition has been filed challenging the Jan 9 order passed by CJM Vibhanshu Sudhir," the official said.The CJM's order followed a complaint filed by Mohd Yameen, a resident of Khaggu Sarai, who alleged that his son, Mohd Alam, was shot by police while fleeing the scene of the violence near the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid during the second round of the court-ordered ASI survey. The mosque, built during the reign of Babur, is the subject of a dispute over claims that it was constructed after razing a pre-existing temple.Yameen said that Alam had gone out that morning to sell biscuits when a crowd gathered during the official survey, and police opened fire. He alleged that Alam sustained three bullet injuries and was treated in hiding before undergoing surgery in Meerut. Four people were killed and at least a dozen others injured in the incident.After hearing the plea, CJM Sudhir directed police to register an FIR against the 12 cops. Alam, who was later arrested, had been in jail since the incident. He was granted bail by the Allahabad High Court earlier this week. Following the order, CJM Sudhir was transferred to Sultanpur as civil judge (senior division) and replaced by Deepak Kumar Jaiswal, former CJM of Kaushambi.Of the 12 policemen named in the court directive, only Chaudhary and then Kotwali in-charge Anuj Tomar have been identified, while the others remain unnamed. Chaudhary has since been promoted and is posted as ASP in Firozabad, while Tomar is now posted as Kotwali in-charge in Chandausi.