UP Police Serves Notice To SP MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq In Sambhal Violence Case

Barq called the allegation against him in the Sambhal violence "baseless" and added that he will cooperate with the SIT in the investigation. He has been asked to join the probe on April 8.

Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq was served notice by UP Police SIT in connection with the Sambhal violence case.

Source : X@barq_zia

A special investigation team (SIT) of the Uttar Pradesh police probing the Sambhal violence case served a notice to Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rehman Barq at his Delhi residence on Tuesday. The development came hours the SIT reached his residence but failed to serve the notice after it did not find anyone at his house in Sambhal.

Barq told news agency PTI that the UP police has asked him to join the probe regarding Sambhal violence on April 8, adding that he will cooperate in the investigation.

"I have received the notice. Since I am an MP and a citizen of this country, I will cooperate (in the investigation). I have been called on April 8 and I will go," the MP told PTI over phone.

However, the SP MP has dismissed the allegations levelled against him as "baseless".

"I have full faith in the law, Constitution and judiciary," he added.

The SIT had visited Barq's Sambhal residence earlier in the day on Tuesday, but failed to find anyone there. Following this, Sambhal Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar Bishnoi told PTI that the team would now visit Delhi to serve Barq the notice asking him to join the probe.

This comes two days after the president of the Shahi Jama Masjid Management Committee, Zafar Ali, was arrested in connection with the November 24 violence that erupted last year during a protest against a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque.

Four people were killed and several others, including police personnel, susatined injuries in the Sambhal violence.

On Monday, Sambhal SP Bishnoi said Barq's statement was necessary as he had been named as an accused in the case and that action is being ensured in the investigation of the case registered at Kotwali police station, PTI reported.