Sambhal deaths' autopsy hints at country-made guns, not police firing: Sources

On Monday, the Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Singh gave a statement referring to the autopsy report of those four men killed in the violence over a mosque survey in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, saying that that the victims did not die from police firing, the bullets were fired from country-made guns.

There was a clash between a massive crowd and police. The crowd snatched weapons from officers, pelted stones, open fire while opposing a court-ordered survey of a Masjid. The police responded by firing tear gas shells and using non-lethal pellet guns. As per the reports, four protestors lost their lives in the outrage.

Initially, it was alleged that the policemen shot them dead. The leaders of the opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party also claimed the policemen for this misconduct. However, these allegations were refuted by senior police officials.

As per the sources, the firearms of the police were loaded with 9mm bullets. But, in the post-mortem, 315-bore bullets were found in the bodies of those victims.

During the outrage and search operations that followed, several country-made guns were recovered by the police. They also stated that on Sunday, the firing happened from multiple houses in the area.

Meanwhile, Sambhal is returning to order, schools are reopening and shops providing daily essentials. Though, internet services are still suspended in Sambhal tehsil.

Both Muslim and Hindu communities are trying to rebuild communal harmony and call for unity. Administration officials and the police are monitoring the situation, with personnel positioned at key intersections and the RAF is taking care of the sensitive areas.

Many FIRs have already been registered in relation to the violence. The state authority ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.