Sambhal police shooting: Victims’ families live in fear amid police threats & media distortion
Sambhal (UP), December 20 (KMS): Survivors of police violence and the grieving families of victims from the deadly November 24 shooting in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, are living in constant fear, with reports of police threats and media misrepresentation further intensifying their distress.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the police violence erupted when an Archaeological Survey of India [ASI] team arrived to survey the 16th-century Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, accompanied by a Hindutva mob chanting Jai Shri Ram. As tensions escalated, local residents, mostly Muslims, gathered to protest the survey. In response, the police opened fire on the protesters, killing six young Muslim men, including Naeem, a local tailor and the eldest son in his family.
Naeem, who was shot in the chest while on his way to work, became one of the tragic casualties. His mother, Idreesa, spoke of her profound loss: “He was on his way to work when the police shot him,” she recalled, struggling to comprehend the brutality. Naeem, the family’s primary breadwinner, left behind a wife and four children.
The atmosphere in Sambhal is charged with fear and silence. Local residents are deeply apprehensive about speaking to the media, fearing police retaliation. “If they know we have said something, they will throw us in jail. You will go back home, but they will hound the Muslims,” said one woman, speaking on the condition of anonymity. This intense pressure to remain silent has been exacerbated by the heavy-handed tactics of the police.
In addition to the fear of retaliation, many in the community are alarmed by what they describe as false or biased media coverage of the incident. Locals say that the media is downplaying the police brutality and misrepresenting the Muslim victims. “We are scared of the media,” one resident confided, further highlighting the fear and mistrust that has enveloped the community.
Despite the gravity of the situation, the police have taken no meaningful action to hold anyone accountable. The family of Naeem has not received the post-mortem report, and there has been no progress in seeking justice for the victims. “We have nothing. He is gone. We don’t want to fight. Our priority is just to take care of our family,” Idreesa said, her voice heavy with sorrow and resignation.
The heavy police presence in the area, including barricades and constant surveillance, has further stifled normal life in Sambhal. Shops close early, largely due to police intimidation and the pervasive fear of further violence.
As tensions persist, the Muslim community in Sambhal is left to navigate a difficult reality — caught between the oppressive presence of the police, the threat of retaliation, and a deep, unaddressed yearning for justice for the lives lost in the brutal crackdown.
