India, March 24 -- The Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday arrested Zafar Ali, the president of the Shahi Jama Masjid committee, for allegedly orchestrating violence in the Sambhal district of the state during a mosque survey in November last year, officials aware of the matter said.

According to officials, Ali was first detained from his residence, located around 100 metres from the mosque, at around 11am and then interrogated for close to four hours by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) over the violence, which claimed five lives. He was formally arrested after the questioning.

"On the basis of evidence collected, Zafar Ali was arrested for his role in inciting violence as a team surveyed the Shahi Jama Masjid following court orders. He wa...