Interpol Red Corner Notice issued against 2024 Sambhal violence ‘mastermind’ Shariq Sata

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

File picture of police personnel in Sambhal after violence broke out in November 2024 | Photo Credit: PTI

Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice against fugitive gangster Shariq Sata, the alleged mastermind behind the violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal in November 2024, a police officer said.

Sambhal SP Krishna Kumar Bishnoi, who is now the SP of Bijnor after a recent rejig, told reporters on Friday that Sata, the mastermind behind the November 24, 2024, violence, was previously declared a fugitive offender by a court, with proceedings initiated for the attachment of his property.

Following the completion of the necessary formalities, the Uttar Pradesh Police had requested the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to get Interpol to issue a Red Corner Notice against him.

Sata had fled to Dubai using a forged passport and his family members have frequently travelled there. Police maintained a close surveillance on him and submitted a detailed dossier to the CBI, and subsequently coordinated with Interpol to get the Red Corner Notice issued.

Efforts will now be made to get him arrested and extradited from whichever country he is in, ensuring that he faces legal action for the 2024 incident as well as for the 55 to 60 other criminal cases previously registered against him, Bishnoi said.

Tension erupted in Sambhal on November 24, 2024, when protesting locals clashed with security forces during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid following claims that a Harihar temple previously stood at the site. Four people were killed and dozens injured in the unrest.

During the investigation, Sata emerged as the prime conspirator in the case, the SP said, adding that he fled the country long ago.

Despite multiple police raids, Sata could not be traced, following which a notice under section 84 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was pasted at his residence.

A Red Corner Notice is an international request from Interpol to law-enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest an individual who is wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence.

According to police, Sata was involved in several organised criminal activities, including vehicle thefts, across the National Capital Region (NCR) and Uttar Pradesh, while operating from abroad.

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.