Sambhal Files sees the light of day after 46 years. Sambhal is a city of historical and spiritual importance to Hindu significance. However, it is also the city whose name has been stained by the blood of Hindus for decades. Thus, began the story of communal violence and deep-rooted mistrust.
While the rest of the nation moved forward, Sambhal remained a pressure point that exploded in feuds and riots at the drop of a hat! UP CM Yogi Adityanath allowed the reopening of the 46-year-old Sambhal file to expose a history that must no longer remain buried.
Sambhal Files – The Solemn Truth of the Riots in 1978
BIG BREAKING NEWS 🚨 CM Yogi Adityanath will order reopening of files of 1978 Anti Hindu Sambhal riots.
This temple was closed since 1978 riots. Several Hindu families had to flee after riots. 184 Hindus were ki*lled in that riot.
3 damaged idols have been unearthed at temple… pic.twitter.com/sSYJiHOH0S
— Times Algebra (@TimesAlgebraIND) December 16, 2024
Sambhal Files are a record of the 1978 anti-Hindu riots. These riots marked a dark era of the town’s communal history. Recently, a Bhagwan Shiv temple in Khaggu Sarai was reponed. It was closed down a few years after the 1978 riots that ensured anti-Hindu political and religious environment. Why? Because the atmosphere of hate in Sambhal ensured a Hindu exodus that led to closure of the temple. Another consequence of the 1978 riots was that the Shahi Jama Masjid went out of ASI’s control and administration. Moreover, Hindu worship that continued at the Mandit inside the Jama Masjid premises was stopped. But what caused the 1978 anti-Hindu Sambhal riots?
in 1978, Muslim League leader’s henchmen spread a rumour that caused unprecedented anti-Hindu mayhem to reach a crescendo.
Hindus suffered – looting, arson, and senseless violence – their shops torched – their homes abandoned!
Consequently, the riots forced the city to stay gripped in curfew for two months. And Hindus bore the brunt of this chaos. Forty Rastogi families, prominent traders and locals, were forced to flee. They left behind their homes and livelihoods as fear replaced faith. Later, ancient Hindu temples were locked as the doors of justice stayed shut for decades.
On March 29th,1978, #Sambhal witnessed its most horrific communal riots, resulting in the loss of over 180 lives. Burning of 24 #Hindus alive in a mill owned by Banwari Lal Goel. His compound became a refuge for his workers & their relatives fleeing violence 👇 pic.twitter.com/f5G5hoVNaL
— Kavi 🇮🇳 (@kavita_tewari) December 16, 2024
Unfortunately, these riots were not an isolated incident. It was the culmination of tensions that had simmered since 1976, following the murder of a mosque Imam. Instead of quelling the unease, opportunistic political opponents and Muslim leaders fueled communal fires. Ultimately, spreading rumors and lies to ignite hatred in the town that later turned Sambhal’s streets into battlegrounds.
Anti-Hindu Sentiments and Systemic Failures
The #Sambhal Files! Complete Truth, which was hidden from the Nation for so long.
Thank you .@RheemaParashar for this expose with such clarity & with no bars held back. Will not leave any place for Seculars to hide their dirty faces.
DD again proves…it's new 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1L9PPiIHRU
— BhikuMhatre (@MumbaichaDon) December 17, 2024
Reports show that Sambhal burned in the flames of riots 16 times since independence. Yet, the violence of 1978, recorded in Sambhal Files, stood out for its brutality and the systematic targeting of the Hindu community. What followed was an eerie pattern – Hindu houses sold at throwaway prices and temples abandoned.
Sambhal, the city Hindus believe to be the future birthplace of Bhagwan Kalki, turned into a ghost of its former self.
संभल: क्या 1978 में हुए दंगे बन गए हिंदुओं के पलायन की वजह?
अरविंद ओझा (@arvindojha) की इस रिपोर्ट में सुनिए क्या कह रहे हैं संभल के लोग.#Sambhal #UttarPradesh #ATVideo | @nehabatham03 pic.twitter.com/aOyOMMAidz
— AajTak (@aajtak) December 17, 2024
The administrative response was sluggish as two consecutive Janat Party governments fell, allowing anti-Hindu sentiment to take root. Of the 169 FIRs filed during the 1978 riots, only three were registered by the police. Justice remained elusive as witnesses were ignored. Why? Because two consecutive Janta Party governments fell, the 1980 return of Congress to rule the state ensured that court warrants lay untouched, and Sambhal files collected dust.
The Hindus of Sambhal lost not just their lives and homes but their faith in the system.
A city where ancient wells and temples had once symbolized cultural harmony now became synonymous with anti-Hindu persecution.
Why Reopening the Sambhal Files Matters?
Sambhal: After temple over 46 years old has been discovered, DM Sambhal Rajendra Pansia says, "In Sambhal, there are 19 wells, 36 ponds, 52 sarais (rest houses), and 68 pilgrimage sites. Pandit Ji has informed that they will confirm this further…" pic.twitter.com/4OZfHc9VK7
— Oxomiya Jiyori 🇮🇳 (@SouleFacts) December 15, 2024
Under the BJP CM Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh seems ready to wear its Hindu status on its sleeve. The decision to reopen the 1978 Sambhal Files is not just about seeking justice. It is about confronting a legacy of systemic neglect and communal appeasement. For too long, such events have been brushed under the carpet, allowing anti-Hindu sentiments to flourish unchecked.
The reopening of these files will expose:
- Administrative Lapses: Who ignored evidence, witnesses, and warrants?
- Justice Delayed: Why were Hindu victims denied closure for decades?
- Communal Agendas: Who benefited from dividing the communities and spreading fear?
It is time for the truth to come out. The 1978 anti-Hindu riots were not spontaneous; they were orchestrated. The Muslim League leaders and his henchmen spread misinformation to rile the Islamists. Thereafter, the 1980 Congress government ensured a systemic silencing of Hindus to stay in power. Thus, through Smabhal Files, this targeting of Hindus must be acknowledged, and those responsible – whether then or now – must be held accountable.
Reclaiming Sambhal’s Lost Glory
The recent riots in Sambhal are a mere echo of the 1978 anti-Hindu riots. This time, in2024, the Muslims used stone-pelting on police to hide their sectarian violence. However, Sambhal’s soil is seeped in the blood of Hindus. And they along with Smabahal’s wells, temples, and ancient heritage, deserve closure. It deserves to be remembered for its cultural richness, not its communal scars.
The reopening of Sambhal Files is a step toward healing and a step toward justice.
For decades, Hindus in Sambhal were pushed to the margins. Their temples were silenced. Their homes were taken. Thankfully, the tides seem to be turning. The truth will come to light, and the victims will finally find a voice. Thus, Sambhal Files and its reopening is a call to reclaim the Hindu pride and Sanatani heritage that was stolen. May the city of Bhagwan Kalki be rebuilt as a city where peace prevails and no Hindu is ever made to suffer in silence again.