BAREILLY: Members of the
SIT team, investigating the cases related to the Sambhal violence that erupted on November 24, served a notice to MP Ziaur Rahman Barq at midnight on Tuesday in Delhi. The SIT officials asked the MP to appear by April 8 to record his statement in the violence case in Sambhal.
The SIT officials reached the Western Court MP Hostel in Delhi at night to serve the notice to the MP after they came to know that the MP was not at his residence in Sambhal. Sambhal SP Krishan Bishnoi said that the MP was not found at his Sambhal residence on Tuesday evening.
Neighbours informed them that the entire family was in Delhi. Therefore, the SIT team went to the Delhi residence and served the 35A notice to MP Barq, requiring him to record his statement by April 8. According to the SP, the investigator in the case against the MP related to the Sambhal incident seeks his cooperation in the investigation, which is why the notice was issued.
After receiving the notice, the MP said that he received the notice from Sambhal police and he was asked to cooperate with the investigation as per the High Court's orders.
He assured full cooperation as a responsible citizen of India.
Barq on Monday criticised
Zafar Ali’s arrest and raised his mistreatment in jail. He also said that arresting Zafar during Ramzan was unjust as his only crime was exposing the police for firing shots.
The SP mentioned that an FIR was registered under case number 335/24 following the unrest during the Shahi Jama Masjid survey. The MP and SP MLA Iqbal Mahmood's son, Suhail Iqbal, are named accused in this case, while several others were unidentified.
The President of the Jama Masjid Committee, Zafar Ali advocate, has been arrested for his involvement. Zafar is accused of conspiring to incite unrest and making false statements in serious crimes. While the MP is accused of making inflammatory speeches, the MLA's son is accused of inciting unrest.
The High Court has stayed the MP's arrest, and actions are proceeding according to the court's orders. The BNSS 35 notice is being used to seek cooperation in the investigation.