India, June 19 -- MEERUT The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed a charge sheet against Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and 22 others in connection with the violence that broke out near the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal in November last year.

Barq was accused of delivering a provocative speech that allegedly incited violence. Sohail Iqbal, son of SP MLA Iqbal Mehmood, was also initially named as an accused for allegedly provoking the crowd on the day of the violence. However, the SIT's investigation did not find sufficient evidence to support the allegations against Sohail, and his name was omitted from the final charge sheet.

The charge sheet was filed under BNS sections 191(2) (rioting), 191(3) (rioting while armed with a ...