UP Police Reveals Plot To Kill Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain During 2024 Sambhal Violence For Conducting Temple Related Litigation
Sambhal, a place in Uttar Pradesh, witnessed violence on November 24, 2024, after locals gathered near the Shahi Jama Masjid to protest against the local court-ordered survey on the second day of the process.
Sambhal Police have arrested Mohd Ghulam, a key associate of Dubai-based gangster Shariq Satha, for conspiring to assassinate Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain during the violence that erupted amid the second round of the Shahi Jama Masjid survey on November 24, 2023.
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain practices primarily in the Supreme Court and has been appearing for the Hindu side in most Temple-Mosque disputes.
Superintendent of Police (SP) of Krishan Bishnoi said in a press conference yesterday that Ghulam, acting on instructions from Satha, incited violence and targeted Jain, who had petitioned for the mosque survey. He told the media that as a part of the plan to murder Vishnu Jain, his photograph was given to people who were asked to finish him off.
A large cache of foreign-made arms and ammunition was recovered from Ghulam, with forensic analysis confirming that the recovered ammunition matched bullet casings found at crime scenes where four people were killed.
According to police, Ghulam orchestrated the unrest by directing his associates, Mullah Afroz and Mohd Waris, to attack protesters and escalate tensions. He has 20 cases registered against him across Sambhal, neighbouring districts and in the Delhi-NCR. The investigation revealed that on November 23, 2024, Ghulam and Satha planned to prevent the survey from taking place. So far, 79 individuals have been arrested in connection with the violence.
SP Bishnoi further alleged that Satha had previously enjoyed political patronage, including from former Samajwadi Party MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq. He added that the rioters were incited by saying that the mosque was built 5000 years ago and is a symbol of Babur and the rioters were told that it was their religious duty to protect the structure.
"He said that during the violence on 24th, there would be a Lawyer from elsewhere who comes and files applications at different places. There was a plan to kill him and his photograph was also given. They were told that he was from Delhi and they were told that they should reach Jama Masjid and finish him off. They wanted to kill him so that violence spreads in the entire country and they get famous across the world," the SP said.
The SP further stated that a lot of data had been erased by Ghulam from his mobile phone. However, he said that the mobile would be sent to the lab for investigation. He also said that some information on gold smuggling has also come to their attention.
Sambhal, a place in Uttar Pradesh, witnessed violence on November 24, 2024, after locals gathered near the Shahi Jama Masjid to protest against the local court-ordered survey on the second day of the process. As tensions escalated, protesters clashed with the police; there was heavy stone-pelting.
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain has been appearing before the Supreme Court for the Hindu side in the Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple-Shahi Idgah Mosque dispute. He also appears for the HIndu side in the Sambhal Jama Masjid case. Vishnu Jain was appointed the nodal officer by the Supreme Court for the Petitioners who are challenging the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. He recently appeared for the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti in the plea challenging the Bombay High Court's order directing registration of an FIR against the management of the temple of Goddess Tuljabhawani at Tuljapur for alleged misappropriation.
