Samhar advocates hold a pennant protest against the arrest of the chairman of the Jama Mosque Commission

Advocate protests against the arrest of President Zafar Ali in Sambar on March 24, 2025 in the local court in Sambar. Image source: PTI

A lawyer in Sambar protested on Monday (March 24, 2025) in protest against the chairman of the Shahi Jama Masjid committee and senior lawyer Zafar Ali related to the violence on November 24.

Advocates who held protests in all courts in Sambar district said the arrest was an attempt to stop him from testifying before the Judicial Committee that investigated the incident.

Mohammad Nazar Qureshi said: “As part of the strike, various courts under the Sambhal district leadership such as Chandousi, Gunnaur and Sambhal remained closed. There was no FIR against him, but he was sent to jail on unspecified charges. This was a wrong behavior by the police.

Advocates also put forward slogans against Zafar Ali’s arrest.

Amid tensions, police conducted flag parades in certain areas of Sambar. Police officers including the Provincial Armed Police (PAC) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) in the area around Shahi Jama Masjid and Mr Ali’s houses were still present on Monday (24 March 2025) to control any protests.

Burning characters

Mr Ali himself is the chairman of the board of directors of Shahi Jama Masjid, Sambhal, and was arrested on March 23 for the violence, which police claimed they had collected evidence that he had played an inflammatory role in the violence last year. “We have collected evidence of his inflammatory role in the violence last year,” said Sambar Police Chief Krishna Kumar.

Mr. Ali has been at the forefront of the dispute and claimed in a press conference following the violence on November 24 that the dead were fired by police.

A small town in western Uttar Pradesh, Sambhal, witnessed violence on November 24, the day after the local court ordered the investigation. People gathered near the mosque that clashed with Uttar Pradesh police officers, causing heavy stone stings and accusing police of firing. Uttar Pradesh police claimed they only used “light force” to control the situation.

Five people died and several others were injured in the conflict. Uttar Pradesh police denied allegations of shooting at protesters.