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Time of India

Sambhal violence: Charges framed against 50 accused, trial to begin

Bareilly: Nearly six months after five people were killed during violence at Sambhal's Shahi Jama Masjid , a local court has framed charges against 50 accused, paving the way for trial proceedings to begin. The court of ADJ (SC/ST Act) Ragini Singh passed the order on Thursday evening, rejecting multiple discharge petitions filed by the defence. The violence had erupted on the morning of Nov 24 last year during a survey at the mosque over claims that it was originally a Harihar temple. The clashes left five dead and several policemen injured. Police arrested over 80 people in connection with the incident. So far, four accused have been granted bail by the Allahabad high court, though they are yet to be released. While the police had earlier filed a chargesheet — detailing the evidence collected against the accused — it is only after the court framed charges on Thursday evening that the matter will formally move to trial. Assistant district govt counsel Hariom Prakash Saini told TOI, "Four to five lawyers presented discharge petitions on behalf of some accused, arguing that their clients were not named in the FIR and had been picked up from their homes without basis. They claimed the accused were not involved in the violence." "However, I informed the court that all names came up during the investigation and were backed by video footage and other evidence in the police file. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Где два мира сливаются воедино SAUDI Забронировать Undo We told the court there's enough material to proceed against all 50 accused," he added. After hearing both sides, the court dismissed the discharge petitions and framed charges under relevant sections, including rioting and murder . The SIT probing the case had identified Shariq Satha, an alleged gangster, as the main conspirator behind the violence. Zafar Ali, head of the Jama Masjid committee, was also arrested for his alleged role in the conspiracy and sent to jail.