NEW DELHI: In 1978, as India grappled with the aftershocks of Morarji Desai’s announcement of demonetisation of high-value banknotes, a storm of violence was brewing in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal. What began as simmering communal tensions soon erupted into one of the region’s most devastating riots, leaving 184 people dead and reshaping Sambhal’s demographic for decades.
The unrest began with an incident at MGM College, where students assigned titles to attendees, including Muslim female students. This drew the ire of local Muslim leader Manzar Sharif, who had a history of disputes with the college administration.
The following day, Sharif led a protest with about 30 individuals, demanding action against the students. What started as a small demonstration escalated into an attempt to shut down local shops, leading to clashes with Hindu shopkeepers. Reports suggest that protesters set shops on fire, further igniting tensions between the two communities.
The killing of Hindu businessman Banwari Lal Goyal marked a turning point in the riots. Goyal, who had previously sheltered shopkeepers in his brother-in-law’s mansion, was murdered by rioters who broke down the gate with a tractor.
His death, along with the violence that followed, led to widespread panic and the exodus of Hindu families from Sambhal. Before the riots, Hindus constituted 35% of the local population; this figure dropped to 20% in the aftermath.
Also read:Displaced post Sambhal riots, 3 families handed back ‘lost’ land after 47 years
In the days following the riots, a curfew was imposed for over a month, and the situation remained tense. More than 168 FIRs were filed, implicating approximately 1,200 individuals. However, due to insufficient evidence, most of the accused were acquitted. In the case of the murder of Goyal, the judge lamented that such individuals had not faced harsher punishment, expressing disbelief at the lack of accountability.
The reopening of the Shiv-Hanuman temple in Sambhal’s Khaggu Sarai area in December 2024 has reignited discussions about the riots. The temple had remained locked for 46 years after the violence forced Hindu families to flee.
Authorites have since launched a fresh investigation into the riots. Sambhal District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya confirmed that details on the causes, fatalities, and court proceedings are being collected. Moradabad divisional commissioner Aunjaneya Singh clarified that while no formal reinvestigation has been ordered, directives have been issued to compile information on the cases.
‘Fearing for our lives … ‘: Survivors recount horror
The Sambhal district administration has restored land ownership to three Hindu families who had fled the area during the 1978 riots, officials confirmed.
Survivors of the riots continue to demand justice and restoration of their properties. Vishnu Sharan Rastogi, whose family abandoned their home in 1978, expressed relief at the temple’s reopening but lamented the losses endured by the Hindu community.
“In 1978, riots broke out, and we had to abandon the temple. My nephew locked the doors, and we left to ensure our safety. Over the years, no one encroached on the temple, but it remained neglected,” he told TOI.
Also read:’25-30 Hindu families lived in Sambhal temple area, left after 1978 riots’
Amrish Kumar, one of the claimants, told ANI, “We lived in Sambhal until the 1978 riots, during which my grandfather Tulsi Ram was killed. Fearing for our lives, we abandoned our property in Mohalla Jagat.”
He added that when they tried to return, “we were chased away.”
Another claimant, Asha Devi, shared that they had tried to reclaim the land many times but were driven off. “After the riots in 1978, we were forced to leave. Our 2.25 bighas of land…was encroached upon by members of the Muslim community, who built a school there,” she explained.
