Police officers find “Made in Pak” bullets

New Delhi:

The investigation into the violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh has caused shock. Police said forensic officers found bullet casings – exploded and unexploded – made in Pakistan.

“The team of officials found a misfired 9mm grenade and a grenade with the inscription “PAKISTAN ORDNANCE FACTORY” at the spot, police said.

Two 12-caliber shells and two 32-caliber shells were also recovered, police said. Officers are currently engaged in the search operation, an official added.

Several high-ranking police officers were already on site.

The finding is expected to have a huge impact on the three-member judicial panel investigating the violence, which was planned in advance.

The committee set up by the Yogi Adityanath government examined several four key points – whether the violence was spontaneous or the result of a conspiracy, the circumstances that led to it and the preparations necessary to prevent such incidents.

The committee is headed by retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice Devendra Kumar Arora. The other members are retired IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad and retired IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain.

Last month, four people were killed and many others injured when clashes broke out during a court-ordered tour of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal. The local court had ordered an inquiry after a petition was filed alleging the presence of a Hindu temple underneath as in the case of Varanasi and Mathura.

This created a perception that the mosque might also be demolished as had happened in Ayodhya and locals had gathered to stop the survey to be conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India.