Uttar Pradesh Police is planning to approach the local court to initiate the process of attaching the properties of more than 70 accused in cases related to the Sambhal mosque violence, The Indian Express reported on Wednesday.
The police have been unable to locate them despite issuing non-bailable warrants in connection with the violence on November 24 that led to the killing of at least five Muslims, all of them allegedly by police firing.
Earlier, police had put up posters of 74 accused at various locations throughout the town. According to police, the suspects, captured through drone cameras, CCTV footage, and mobile phone videos, were directly involved in the violence.
“Their identities are yet to be confirmed, so the posters have been put up to seek public assistance in identifying them,” Sambhal Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP, North) Shrish Chandra told media at the time. However, no one shown in the posters has been traced.
Last month, UP Police’s special investigation team in Sambhal submitted chargesheets in six cases related to the November 24 protest against the mosque survey, totaling over 4,400 pages.
So far, 76 Muslims, including four women, have been arrested for allegedly pelting stones at police from rooftops. The police have registered eight FIRs in connection with the violence.
