Police outpost built with stones pelted during Sambhal violence inaugurated as “Deepa Sarai”

A new police outpost, named Deepa Sarai, built symbolically using the bricks and stones hurled at police personnel by rioters during the November 24, 2024 violence in Sambhal has been inaugurated.

The outpost was formally opened on Friday with a traditional havan (ritual fire ceremony). Circle Officer Kuldeep Kumar acted as the yajman, while two priests conducted the ritual. The building was decorated with balloons for the occasion.

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Located barely 100 meters from the homes of Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq and alleged mastermind and absconding gangster Shariq Satha, the outpost’s construction began on March 4, 2025, following the communal violence triggered by a dispute over the survey of Harihar Temple and Jama Masjid.

The foundation stone of the outpost was laid by a young Muslim girl, Inaya, marking a symbolic gesture of unity. The structure was completed in 9 months and 13 days.

The two-storey outpost is equipped with CCTV cameras and will also house a control room. This is the second such sensitive-location outpost in Sambhal; earlier, the Satyavrat outpost was established beside the Jama Masjid with round-the-clock police deployment.

Young student Junera, who participated in the inauguration, said “I am a second-grade student, and I inaugurated the Deepa Sarai outpost. It has been built for our safety because crime is increasing. It will help in crime control. The government has done a very good job by building it.”

District Magistrate Dr. Rajendra Pansiya said 35 outposts were proposed to be constructed over the past year, Deepa Sarai was one of them. He described the area as one of the most sensitive in the district. The outpost will ensure quicker access to police services so residents won’t have to travel far for minor grievances. The project was completed within the regulated budget.

Superintendent of Police KK Vishnoi added that after studying the profiles of those involved in the 2024 violence, authorities strategically chose to set up the outpost in Deepa Sarai. The earlier structure at the site was a small iron shed, which has now been replaced by the new building. The DM approved Rs 52 lakh for the project.

In a symbolic move, the stones recovered from 15 groups of rioters were used in the construction — turning objects of violence into tools of security. A child from Deepa Sarai officially inaugurated the completed outpost on Friday, marking a new chapter of law enforcement presence and community reassurance in the region.