Up Govt Begins Land Allotment For Families Displaced By Sambhal Riots Nearly Five Decades Ago

To rehabilitate families displaced by the 1978 communal riots in Sambhal, the Uttar Pradesh government has begun allotting residential plots on three bighas of land reclaimed from a graveyard area. On Thursday, the family of late riot victim Ramsharan Rastogi became the first beneficiary of the initiative, receiving ownership rights to a 100-square-metre plot.

UP minister JPS Rathore, who attended the allotment ceremony, described the move as a long-overdue step towards justice for families affected by the violence nearly five decades ago.

“Today, I have come to wipe the tears of those whose homes were burnt down in Sambhal 48 years ago. Generations have passed while waiting for justice. India became independent in 1947, but Sambhal has attained freedom in the true sense today,” Rathore said.

The minister handed over the allotment certificate to Rukmini, daughter-in-law of Ramsharan Rastogi, and later participated in a ‘bhoomi pujan’ ceremony with her and her son, Kapil Rastogi, at the allotted site.

The land earmarked for rehabilitation is located near Teele Wali Masjid in Sher Khan Sarai village under the Kotwali police station area.

Moradabad divisional commissioner Anjaneya Kumar Singh said the rehabilitation process had formally commenced and urged families who migrated from Sambhal after the riots to approach the district administration with proof of ownership and identity.

“The process of resettling riot victims has begun today. We appeal to all those who left Sambhal after the riots to contact the district administration with relevant documents. We will ensure that all eligible families receive land,” Singh said.

The rehabilitation drive follows a promise made by chief minister Yogi Adityanath during a public event in Mathura on April 7. Referring to the 1978 riots, the chief minister had said hundreds of Hindus were killed and many families fled to Delhi and other cities due to fear and insecurity. He assured affected families that if they produced documents proving ownership of their properties, the government would facilitate the return of their land and restore possession rights.

While speaking about the riots, Adityanath cited the case of Banwari Lal Goyal, whose family owned a business called Murari Lal & Sons. According to the chief minister, a mob broke into the shop using a tractor-trolley, forced people from the upper floor downstairs and then set the establishment ablaze after pouring kerosene. Banwari Lal and several others were allegedly burnt alive in the incident.

Communal violence erupted in Sambhal on March 29, 1978, resulting in the deaths of around 150 people. Among those killed was local trader Ramsharan Rastogi.

Recalling the tragedy, Kapil Rastogi said his grandfather owned a grocery shop in Mohalla Mahmood Khan Sarai near the Ekta police outpost. According to Kapil, a mob attacked his grandfather, looted the shop and set it on fire. He alleged that the attackers tied weighing scales and weights to Ramsharan’s body before throwing it into a well in front of the shop. The body was recovered three days later and, family members claimed, bore multiple stab wounds and deep axe injuries.

Another survivor, Anil Kumar Rastogi, recounted the destruction of his pulses business during the riots.