New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) may investigate the connection between Pakistani and American ammunition used in the violence that erupted in Sambhal on November 24.
During the investigation in Sambhal on Tuesday, Pakistan Ordnance Factory-marked cartridges were found in the drains and along the roadsides in violence-hit areas. According to police sources, these cartridges were used against the police during the violence. The police have recovered firearms and nearly 50 cartridges used in the violence so far.
What did the forensic team find
As per a PTI report, a forensic team probing the Sambhal violence site on Tuesday discovered six empty cartridges marked as “made in Pakistan”. Besides, they also recovered another empty cartridge marked ‘made in the USA,’ according to officials.
Speaking to reporters, Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar Vishnoi said that the forensic team, accompanied by a municipal team, studied the site at the request of the SIT which is investigating the violence. They conducted a search for over 90 minutes, and uncovered two cartridges with markings such as ‘POF 9MM 68-26′ and 12 bore with markings of Winchester Made-in-USA.
Vishnoi said: “A shocking thing came to light in this investigation, as six empty cartridges made in Pakistani ordnance factory were recovered.” He added, “‘Made in USA’ is also written on another cartridge recovered from the site.” Dubbing the matter as “very serious,” he assured that a comprehensive probe into the entire issue would be carried out.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in Parliament alleged that the BJP had orchestrated a “well-planned” conspiracy in Sambhal. He accused the police personnel of using both official and personal weapons, which caused the deaths of innocent people and injuries to several others.
Tensions in Sambhal mounted after the first survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid was carried out on November 19. The survey was conducted after a court order issued on a petition which claimed that the site was previously a Harihar temple. On November 24, the situation took a violent turn during a second survey of the mosque. Protesters and police clashed and four people lost their lives in the incident.
