The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to recover the cost of damages to public property from protestors involved in the Sambhal violence. The posters of stone pelters will also be displayed at prominent public locations.

In Sambhal’s Kot Garvi area, a court ordered survey of Shahi Jama Masjid prompted by a petition claiming a Harihar temple once stood at the site resulted in a massive violence, leaving four people dead and several injured. 

Reportedly, an official spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh government said that the state is adopting a firm stance against the individuals involved in the Sambhal violence. The official stated that the posters of stone pelters and miscreants will be displayed publicly, and recovery of damages will be sought. Furthermore, a reward may also be announced for information leading to their arrest.

Notably, the government had earlier displayed posters of individuals accused of vandalism during the anti-CAA protests in 2020, putting them across key locations including the state capital.  Nonetheless, the posters were eventually taken down following a court directive.

Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal witnessed massive violence on Sunday when a large crowd assembled near a mosque and began chanting slogans as a survey team resumed its work. The situation intensified as protesters clashed with security forces, allegedly set vehicles ablaze and hurled stones.

Reports said that the Police have arrested 25 individuals and registered seven FIRs, naming Zia-ur-Rehman Barq, the Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal, Sohail Iqbal, son of the party’s local MLA Iqbal Mehmood, together with more than 2,750 unidentified suspects.

Meanwhile, a magisterial inquiry is ongoing, and superintendent of police Krishna Kumar Vishnoi confirmed on Monday that the situation is now under control, ensuring that strict action will be taken against those responsible for the unrest.

The opposition parties have slammed the ruling BJP at both the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh following Sunday’s violence. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the state government of staging a riot, while senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra claimed that the ruling party was fueling divisions between Hindus and Muslims.

The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the RSS of reinforcing barriers that obstruct the paths of Dalits, Adivasis and OBCs. 

Addressing the Samvidhan Rakshak Abhiyaan (Save Constitution Campaign) event at Talkatora Stadium in Delhi, the Senior Congress leader said that while the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government made efforts to dismantle these barriers, it did not weaken the wall to the extent it should have.

Rahul Gandhi further said that he can guarantee that PM Modi has not read the Constitution. He continued that if the Prime Minister had read the Constitution, that he would not do what he does daily. The Leader of Opposition asserted that the Constitution is not merely a document but embodies India’s values of truth and non-violence, cultivated over thousands of years.

He also pointed out that the country’s whole system is pitted against Dalits, Adivasis, and backward class people, mentioning that a wall stands in the way of Dalits, Adivasis, and OBCs, and PM Modi along with the RSS are strengthening that wall by adding cement to it.

The Congress leader also reflected on the UPA’s initiatives, such as MGNREGA and the Right to Food, which he said aimed to weaken these barriers. The BJP are strengthening that wall by adding concrete, he continued.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi also praised the ongoing caste census in Telangana as a significant step forward, promising that the Congress will do the same wherever it comes to power.

Additionally, Rahul Gandhi also said that many want to pursue careers in engineering or media, but systemic barriers often deny them opportunities. He added that today, there is hardly any representation of backward communities in media ownership or among anchors, which reflects the skewed opportunities available to them.

Describing the Constitution as a tool for justice, Rahul Gandhi called for a renewed focus on its values, which he said were being undermined. He mentioned that the entire system in this country is working against Dalits, Adivasis, and backward-class people, and it is their responsibility to restore the vision of the Constitution.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday expressed concern over the arrest and denial of bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das, spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote. Issuing an official statement, the Ministry said that this incident comes amid a series of attacks on Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, including arson, looting, theft, vandalism and desecration of religious sites.

Chinmoy Krishna Das, Bangladeshi Hindu monk was arrested on charges of sedition, and his bail application was rejected by the Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Court. Reportedly, the court noted that the police did not request Das’s remand, and directed his transfer to judicial custody. Furthermore, it also directed that the monk be granted all religious privileges during his detention.

The MEA in its statement urged the Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression. India also pointed out that the perpetrators of these acts remain at large, while charges have been pressed against Das for peacefully voicing demands. It added that the ministry has noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das.

As per Bangladeshi media reports, Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu was arrested on charges of disrespecting the Bangladeshi flag during a rally he addressed in October. The President of Pundarik Dham in Bangladesh, was one of the 18 charged with sedition over the hoisting of a saffron flag in Bangladesh. Reports said he had organised multiple rallies in Bangladesh to condemn what the protestors called atrocities against fellow devotees.

Meanwhile, Hindus in West Bengal have announced plans to protest and block the Petrapole Border if bail is not granted to ISKCON’s Chinmoy Das. Furthermore, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said that the party would hold protests today and tomorrow in front of the West Bengal Assembly over the situation in Bangladesh. A torch rally is also planned for this evening.