For Alam, a biscuit seller in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, and his father, Yameen, the past year has been marked by a desperate search for justice. Shot three times amid violent protests linked to the Sambhal mosque survey, Alam says he has gone through multiple surgeries, medical bills running into lakhs of rupees, and mounting legal troubles.
Over one year after the gunshot injuries, a Sambhal court has now directed the district police to file an FIR against several police officers, including the then circle officer Anuj Chaudhary and the SHO. It has directed the police to probe what Alam’s family claims to be police firing and submit the FIR details within 7 days.
Notably, Alam is himself an accused in one of the FIRs linked to the violence. He has been charged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 191(2) (rioting) and 190 (unlawful assembly), in addition to Section 319(2) (cheating by personation), for allegedly lying about his identity and address while seeking treatment in a Meerut hospital.
In its 11-page order last week, Chief Judicial Magistrate Vibhanshu Sudheer noted that while gunshots clearly struck the victim, the shooter’s identity remained under investigation. The court observed that in “attempt to murder” cases, it is unlikely a victim would spare the actual perpetrator to accuse someone else wrongly. It also rejected the police's preliminary defence, finding their report “suspicious” and contradictory to medical evidence.
The CJM remarked, “In the present matter, it is necessary to bring the actual truth before the court...investigation is necessary and in the interest of justice.” Consequently, the court allowed Yameen’s application under Section 173(4) of the BNSS, and directed the SHO of Sambhal to register the FIR and ensure that an investigation is conducted.
Meanwhile, Sambhal SP Krishan Kumar Bishnoi has said the police will challenge the court’s order. “We will not register an FIR. We will challenge the (Sambhal) court’s order and appeal to the high court.”
Five youths were killed and several others injured during the violence in November 2024. Residents allege that these youths were killed as a result of police firing, a claim that the local police have consistently denied while insisting that they came under stone-pelting and gunfire from those opposed to the survey at the Sambhal mosque.
What happened on that day?
According to Yameen, his son, Alam, had left home with a three-wheeled cart to sell biscuits on November 24, 2024. At around 8.45 am, when he reached near the Shahi Jama Masjid, a large crowd had already gathered there. The family alleged the police started firing at the crowd. During this violence, Alam was shot twice in the back and once in the arm.
“We work selling biscuits. My son was shot when he went out to sell biscuits,” Yameen said.
According to the petition filed by Yameen, his son was refused treatment at the local hospital in Sambhal. Yameen claimed that he kept his injured son at home for three days. When his condition worsened, he took him to Meerut, where he received treatment.
On December 31, 2024, Yameen filed complaints to the Chief Minister, and on the following day, to the Sambhal SP, DM, Moradabad DIG, the DGP, as well as the state human rights commission, against the local police. Newslaundry has seen copies of these letters.
The family approached the court on February 4 last year after there was no response to the complaints, Yameen claimed. Along with the petition, Yameen submitted documents related to Alam’s treatment and the report of the bullets removed from his body during the operation were also presented to the court.
According to Advocate Qamar Hussain, who filed the petition on behalf of Yameen, Alam's name appeared in the police chargesheet filed on February 21 only after the family’s petition. The FIR filed on November 24, 2024, had initially named only eight persons along with at least 800 unidentified individuals.
On the question of Alam being made an accused only after his family’s petition, SP Bishnoi said, “He was shot with a .32 bore pistol, which a laboratory in Agra has confirmed. We do not use this firearm. When the police did not fire the shot, how did the court issue an order to register a case against the police?”
Meanwhile, Alam’s legal battle continues on two fronts – as both victim and accused. Regarding the current status of Alam's case, advocate Qamar Hussain says the district court rejected their interim bail application on November 28, 2025. After this, they approached the Allahabad High Court for interim bail, where the next hearing is scheduled for January 16.
Newslaundry spoke to Anuj Chaudhary, the then Circle Officer of Sambhal who is currently the Additional Superintendent of Police in Firozabad. He declined to comment on the case, citing that the matter is sub judice.
In times of misinformation, you need news you can trust. We’ve got you covered. Subscribe to Newslaundry and power our work.
Newslaundry is a reader-supported, ad-free, independent news outlet based out of New Delhi. Support their journalism, here.
