Interpol Issues Red Corner Notice Against Sambhal Violence Mastermind Shariq Sata

Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice against fugitive gangster Shariq Sata, who has been identified by Uttar Pradesh Police as the alleged mastermind behind the violence in Sambhal on November 24, 2024.

Sambhal Police said Sata had earlier been declared a fugitive offender by a court, with proceedings initiated for the attachment of his property. After completing the required formalities, the Uttar Pradesh Police approached the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which coordinated with Interpol to secure the international notice.

According to police, Sata fled to Dubai using a forged passport and has remained absconding for years. His family members have also frequently travelled to Dubai, prompting authorities to maintain close surveillance. Police prepared a detailed dossier on his activities and shared it with the CBI as part of the process.

Authorities will now seek to locate, arrest and extradite Sata from whichever country he is found in. He is wanted in connection with the Sambhal violence as well as 55 to 60 other criminal cases, police said.

The violence broke out on November 24, 2024, when protesters clashed with security forces during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. The survey followed claims that a Harihar temple had previously stood at the site. The clashes left four people dead and dozens injured.

During the investigation, Sata emerged as the alleged prime conspirator, police said. Multiple raids were conducted to trace him, but he remained unlocated. A lookout circular had already been issued against him, while a notice under Section 84 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was pasted at his residence.

Police have also accused Sata of involvement in organised criminal activities, including vehicle theft, across the National Capital Region and Uttar Pradesh while operating from abroad.

A Red Corner Notice is an international request issued through Interpol to help law-enforcement agencies locate and provisionally arrest a person wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence.