The panel, led by retired Justice Devendra Kumar Arora of the Allahabad High Court and supported by retired IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad and retired IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain, has traced a steep decline in the Hindu population of Sambhal—from an estimated 45 per cent at independence to around 15–20 per cent today, implying a substantial demographic imbalance marked by marked Muslim majority. The report also highlights that the 2024 violence was not spontaneous but involved external agitators and premeditated provocation.
Documentation within the report records 15 communal riots since 1947, indicating a persistent undercurrent of sectarian strife aimed at marginalising minority communities. One cited turning point was the 1978 riot, regarded as a major catalyst in the demographic shift, with further allegations of forced conversions, encroachment on Hindu property and erasure of heritage—all features of a broader socio-demographic realignment.
The commission collected testimonies from over 200 witnesses, including survivors of the 1978 riot, and documented claims of a bygone Shiva temple and ritual well replaced by a mosque structure—symbols of communal displacement. It also flags the involvement of radical groups, local political figures and outside elements in fomenting unrest; for instance, Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq allegedly delivered inflammatory remarks—“Muslims are the masters of this country, not the servants”—during a speech at the mosque two days before the violence.
The 24 November unrest, sparked by a court‑ordered ASI survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid amid Hindu claims that it replaced a temple, resulted in at least four deaths and multiple injuries. The report notes that many weapons involved were traced back to foreign origins, including the UK, USA and Germany; nonetheless, timely police action prevented more extensive bloodshed.
Following the report’s submission, government officials have confirmed that its contents remain confidential until tabled before the state Cabinet and Assembly. Home Principal Secretary Sanjay Prasad emphasised that action will follow after a thorough review, while panel members have refrained from discussing substantive findings, citing procedural confidentiality.
Political responses have been swift and polarised. A BJP spokesperson described the reported demographic shift as “a bitter truth,” calling for policies to reverse the exodus of Hindus from districts like Sambhal. Opposition leaders, including those from the Congress and Samajwadi Party, denounced what they viewed as selective leaks intended to divert attention from economic and social issues—accusing the ruling party of stoking communal divisions for political ends.
Parallel to the commission’s findings, a Special Investigation Team filed a voluminous chargesheet earlier this year, naming MP Ziaur Rahman Barq and mosque committee head Zafar Ali among the accused in multiple cases linked to the violence. The chargesheet, exceeding 1,100 pages, reflects the legal gravity of the incident and indicates ongoing criminal proceedings.