A forensic investigation of the weapons used in the Sambhal violence of November has revealed that perpetrators used Pakistan-manufactured bullets to attack others.
Probe into five empty shells and two misfired cartridges recovered from Sambhal’s Kot Garvi revealed that they were produced by the Pakistan Ordinance Factory (POF), additional superintendent of police (ASP) Shreesh Chandra said.
The city of Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh erupted in violence after a court-mandated survey of a mosque was ordered on November 24. The scuffle resulted in the deaths of four people and injured several police officials. The police had earlier said that at least 41 rounds of bullets were fired during the clashes.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the incident sought the help of forensic specialists. During a 90-minute search, they discovered two cartridges: one labelled “POF 9MM 68-26” and another, a 12-bore cartridge, marked “Winchester Made-in-USA.”
“The discovery of Pakistan-made ammunition suggests the seriousness of this case. The police are intensively investigating and working to identify those involved in the violence,” Sambhal SP Krishna Kumar Bishnoi said.
Meanwhile, the SIT is investigating to nab the culprits behind the violence. Municipal workers have been asked to resume cleaning the area to help the probe agency uncover more evidence.
The suspects in custody are undergoing interrogation as the SIT expressed confidence in bringing them to justice.
Through the probe, it will be ascertained whether the violence was premeditated or spontaneous.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who was stopped at the Ghazipur border here on Wednesday, said he was ready to go alone to Sambhal with police but was not allowed.
“We are trying to go to Sambhal. Police are refusing, not allowing us. As the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, it is my right to go… I said that I am ready to go alone, I am ready to go with the police but they did not accept that either,” Rahul Gandhi said.
“Now they are saying that if we come back in a few days, they will let us go. This is actually against the right of the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha. I should be allowed to go,” he told reporters.
“We want to go to Sambhal and see what happened there. We want to meet the people but I am not being allowed my constitutional right. This is India where attempts are on to end the Constitution. But we will keep fighting,” he added.
With inputs from agencies
Link to article –
Made-in-Pakistan bullets found in Sambhal, police say cartridges likely used during Nov violence
