Amid rising communal tensions triggered by a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, the Sambhal district administration has imposed prohibitory measures, barring the entry of outsiders, including political leaders, activists, and social organisations, until December 10.
The move comes in the wake of violent clashes on November 24 that left four people dead and several injured, including police personnel. District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya, in a statement on Saturday, declared, “No outsider, social organisation, or public representative will be allowed to enter the district without prior permission from the competent authority.” Officials say the decision is aimed at preventing further escalation of the volatile situation.
The restrictions coincided with a planned visit by a 15-member delegation of the Samajwadi Party (SP), led by Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Mata Prasad Pandey. The delegation was set to visit Sambhal to gather details about the violence but was forced to call off the trip after senior officials, including Home Secretary Sanjay Prasad and the District Magistrate, requested them to stay away.
Pandey, addressing reporters in Lucknow, accused the government of attempting to suppress the truth. “The administration’s ban is nothing but an effort to hide its own failures. Our visit would have exposed the lapses in handling the situation,” he alleged.
Pandey further claimed that innocent individuals were being framed for the violence. “Even those who were not present at the site of the clashes have been named in the FIRs. This is a blatant misuse of power,” he said.
SP state president Shyam Lal Pal said that the delegation’s primary aim was to prepare a comprehensive report on the violence for party chief Akhilesh Yadav. The delegation included prominent leaders such as Lal Bihari Yadav, MPs Ziaur Rahman Barq, Harendra Malik, and Ruchi Veera, along with MLAs Kamal Akhtar and Ravidas Mehrotra.
Adding to the political tensions, Congress state president Ajay Rai announced that a delegation from his party would visit Sambhal on December 2 to meet victims and assess the ground situation. “We will ensure the voices of the affected families are heard,” Rai said.
The current unrest in Sambhal traces its origins to a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid on November 19. The petitioner alleged that the mosque was built over an ancient Harihar temple, a claim that has reignited communal sensitivities in the region.
Protests erupted during the survey and culminated in violent clashes on November 24. Protesters reportedly gathered near the mosque, pelting stones and setting vehicles ablaze. The situation spiraled into chaos, with police and civilians sustaining injuries. While authorities have denied opening fire on the protesters, the violence claimed four lives, deepening the divide in the already tense atmosphere.
In the wake of the violence, the district administration has imposed Section 144 of the CrPC, banning public gatherings and rallies across Sambhal. Security has been tightened, with additional police forces stationed in sensitive areas to prevent further disturbances.
The Samajwadi Party has pledged financial assistance of Rs 5 Lakh each to the families of those killed in the recent violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. MP Ruchi Veera stated that the party stands in solidarity with the bereaved families. Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has announced the aid, which will be disbursed to the families soon. The Samajwadi Party has also demanded that the State government provide a compensation of Rs 1 Crore to each victim’s family.
