Police Uncover Potential Link Between Sambhal Violence and Pakistan Following Cartridge Discovery
In a significant turn of events, police have uncovered a possible connection between the recent violence in Sambhal and Pakistan after discovering an empty cartridge from a Pakistan-made bullet at the crime scene. The discovery was made during a forensic examination on Tuesday, raising serious concerns among security agencies.
Reports indicate that six cartridges were found in the drains at the site of the incident, which took place on November 24 during a survey at the Shahi Jama Masjid. A joint forensic investigation, conducted with the Municipal Corporation team, revealed that one of the cartridges was manufactured in Pakistan, while another was traced back to the United States.
According to Additional SP Shrish Chandra, the forensic team arrived at the Kot Garvi neighborhood, where the violence had erupted, and began searching the area. “Six cartridges were recovered from the drains, one of which was confirmed to be from the Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF),” he stated. Upon this discovery, security agencies were immediately alerted and rushed to the location.
Moradabad’s Divisional Commissioner, Aunjaneya Singh, confirmed the findings, noting that the recovered 9mm cartridge bore the inscription “POF” and was likely produced in Pakistan. He also pointed out that another 9mm cartridge had markings indicating it was manufactured in the USA. In addition to the international cartridges, authorities found two 12-bore and two 32-bore shell casings. The search operation in the area is ongoing, with support from the Municipal Corporation.
In response to the discovery, Sambhal’s Superintendent of Police (SP) announced the formation of two Special Investigation Teams (SITs) to delve deeper into the violence. “One of the officers conducted a search operation in coordination with the Municipal Corporation and found both a Pakistan-made and USA-made cartridge, along with other ammunition,” he explained.
The discovery of foreign-made ammunition has raised alarms for the police. “This is a concerning development, and we are committed to conducting a thorough investigation with the help of relevant agencies,” the SP added. Authorities will also be reviewing the criminal records of individuals with potential links to terrorism to assess whether they were involved in the violence.
The link to international firearms has intensified scrutiny of the situation and is expected to lead to a broader investigation involving both local and national security agencies.