The latest judicial inquiry has brought forward a serious revelation about the demographic reality of Sambhal, a communally-sensitive district in Uttar Pradesh. “The Hindu Population in Uttar Pradesh’s communally-sensitive Sambhal district has declined to 15% while Muslim population surged to 85% since 1947.” This finding was formally submitted in a report to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath by the panel investigating the recent Sambhal violence.

The document is not a short summary but a 450-page report, offering detailed insights into the violence that erupted in November 2024. Alongside, it also studies earlier incidents of communal unrest in the district. The panel made a notable point about how demographics have shifted drastically. At one point in the past, the Hindu population in Sambhal was 45%, but with time their number has dropped significantly, eventually reducing to 20%, and now declining further.

From 55% to 15%: Hindu Population’s Decline in Sambhal

The report records the demographic transition in clear figures. “According to the report, during independence, 55% of the population was Muslim and 45% Hindu in the Sambhal Nagar Palika area.” Over the decades, the balance has tilted dramatically. “However, at the present time, the Hindu population has decreased to 15%, whereas the Muslim community has increased to 85%.”

This steady decline of Hindus and simultaneous rise of Muslims is marked as one of the core social and political shifts in the district, raising questions about migration, displacement, and the long-term security of minority groups within Sambhal itself.

Fifteen Communal Riots Since 1947 – Hindus Always the Victims

The judicial panel highlighted the recurring cycle of violence in the district. “The report stated that a total of 15 riots took place in Sambhal since independence.” Each incident is recorded with precision, spanning decades: “These riots occurred in 1947, 1948, 1953, 1958, 1962, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1990, 1992, 1995, 2001, and 2019.”

It also made a troubling disclosure. “The report also revealed that the Muslim-dominated Sambhal district has become a base for several terrorist outfits.” This revelation highlights not only the communal challenges but also the serious security risks associated with the region.

Hindus as the Primary Targets of 2024 Sambhal Violence – Police Thwarted Conspiracy

The commission traced the history of communal fault lines in the area. “Moreover, the judicial commission found that historically, Turks and Pathans had violent clashes in this region.” However, post-1947, the pattern changed. “After 1947, the local Hindus have been the ‘primary victims’ of all the listed communal riots started by Muslims.”

The report makes clear that “Even the Muslim mob violence in November 2024 was planned to attack local Hindus.” Fortunately, a large-scale tragedy was averted. “However, the heavy police presence in Hindu-majority areas prevented large scale Hindu casualties.”

Sambhal Violence of November 2024 and Police Action

The violence of 24th November 2024 is described in detail. “On 24th November 2024, violence erupted during a court-ordered Archaeological Survey of India survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal.”

The unrest quickly turned deadly. “The violence had resulted in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to several others, including officials and locals. As local Muslims gathered outside the mosque and tensions escalated, police resorted to force and opened fire on the protesters, killing at least four men and several injured, including officials and locals.”

The mob attacks caused serious legal consequences. “The violence unleashed by Muslim mobs resulted in 12 FIRs and 80 arrests for pelting stones at police officers from rooftops. According to the charge sheet, there were 159 total accused in the case.” What shocked investigators further was the source of weapons. “It also mentioned that the weapons recovered from the site of violence and other places were manufactured in the United Kingdom, USA, and Germany.”

The Uttar Pradesh Police moved swiftly with legal action. “The Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) had filed a chargesheet of over 4,000 pages in six of the 12 cases.” The gravity of the incident led to a deeper judicial probe. “Following the violence, the UP government constituted a three-tier judicial inquiry commission to investigate Sambhal violence. The commission is chaired by retired judge Devendra Arora, former DGP AK Jain and former IAS Amit Mohan Prasad.”