New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government has instructed authorities to reopen the investigation into the deadly Sambhal riots, which occurred 46 years ago, following a formal request for a fresh probe.
The order comes after nearly 2 decades of a legal stalemate and mounting pressure from local officials.
The riots, which broke out in Sambhal, then part of Moradabad district, are believed to have resulted in the deaths of at least 184 people. However, the accused were acquitted in 2010 due to insufficient evidence, leaving many families without justice.
Now, in a significant development, the UP government has called for a new investigation and directed local police and administrative officials to submit a detailed report within seven days.
According to sources, the renewed investigation was sparked by a letter written by Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Shrichand Sharma on December 17, 2024, urging the government to re-examine the events of the riot.
Responding swiftly to the plea, home secretary Satyendra Pratap Singh took cognizance of the matter on January 6, 2025, instructing Sambhal’s Superintendent of Police (SP), Krishan Kumar Bishnoi, to submit a report within one week. Additional SP Shreesh Chandra has been assigned to lead the investigation, with district magistrate (DM) Rajender Pensiya tasked with appointing an administrative official for a joint inquiry.
The riots erupted in 1976 following the murder of a mosque cleric. The violence escalated on March 28, 1978, when tensions between two communities over a Holika Dahan site ignited widespread unrest.