The judicial inquiry commission report on Sambhal violence has revealed serious findings, discussing in detail the decline of the Hindu population in Sambhal, the activities of terror modules, love jihad, and administrative neglect.
Decline in Hindu Population and Terror Threat
According to the report, the Hindu community’s population in Sambhal kept declining continuously, which affected the social structure of the region. Meanwhile, terror networks expanded their roots, luring local youths and linking them to Pakistani and Afghan terror organisations. Sambhal’s name also appeared in America’s list of top global terrorists, including Maulana Asim Umar, Ahmed Raza alias Shahrukh, Mohammad Asif, Maulana Aseem, and Jafar Masood. The judicial commission stated that several dangerous organisations influenced these youths, such as Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Tehrik-e-Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Hizbul Mujahideen, and ISIS. Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, also built an active network in Sambhal.
Ghazwa-e-Hind Conspiracy and Communal Violence
The report also mentioned the ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’ conspiracy in Sambhal, under which riots deliberately targeted Hindu religious sites and the community. The commission noted that authorities openly protected Muslim extremists during the 15 major riots over the years. Officials did not register any cases from the Hindu side, which forced several Hindu families to migrate out of fear. Extremists also captured the pilgrimage sites belonging to these Hindu families.
Administrative Laxity and Political Patronage
During previous governments, some local political figures of Sambhal played a major role in spreading disorder. The governments remained silent out of fear of these elements, ignoring the persecution of the Hindu community. During the CAA protests, markets were forcibly shut for six consecutive days, disrupting civic life.
Love Jihad Cases and Impact on Families
The inquiry also exposed that Hindu girls in Sambhal were targeted under ‘love jihad’. The report mentioned one case, where in 2013–14, a Hindu girl with religious upbringing married a Turk Muslim youth, separating from her religion and family. Her relationship began during her studies and led to marriage, after which authorities found Urdu books in her Delhi PG room. The matter reached the Allahabad High Court, where the girl gave a statement in favor of her husband, and the family lost the case. They organised a grand Dawat-e-Walima in Sambhal, causing public humiliation for the family. According to the report, after such marriages, Hindu families faced immense pressure, forcing them to leave their homes.
The Sambhal violence inquiry commission, in its report, has presented a grim picture of communal unrest, terror activities, love jihad, and administrative neglect, which caused the Hindu community there to suffer migration and persecution.
