Sambhal Violence: A 15-member delegation from the Samajwadi Party (SP) is set to visit Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal on Saturday to gather information regarding the violence that erupted following a court-ordered survey at the Shahi Jama Masjid complex. However, the local administration has imposed prohibitory orders, barring outsiders from entering the district on the same day.
The violence, which occurred on November 24, erupted after the first survey of the mosque was conducted on November 19, as per a local court's directive. The petitioner had claimed that the Jama Masjid stands on land where a Harihar temple once existed. The unrest involved stone-pelting and arson, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to several others, including policemen. Police have denied allegations of firing at the protesters.
SP state president Shyam Lal Pal, in a statement, said the delegation would visit Sambhal on the instructions of party chief Akhilesh Yadav and subsequently submit a detailed report to him, news agency PTI reported. The delegation includes senior leaders such as Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Mata Prasad Pandey, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Lal Bihari Yadav, and MPs Ziaur Rahman Barq, Harendra Malik, Ruchi Veera, Iqra Hasan, and Neeraj Maurya. Other members include MLAs Kamal Akhtar, Ravidas Mehrotra, Nawab Iqbal Mahmood, and Pinky Singh Yadav.
Earlier, the SP had postponed its visit after assurances from the Director General of Police (DGP) regarding a fair investigation into the violence. Mata Prasad Pandey stated during a press conference, "I was supposed to leave for Sambhal at 10 am today, but in the meantime, I spoke to the Director General of Police. We told him that our people are being framed, even FIRs have been lodged against those who were not present there." The DGP had assured Pandey of a fair investigation and requested that the delegation visit Sambhal after three days.
Sambhal district administration has reiterated the enforcement of prohibitory orders, prohibiting the entry of outsiders until Saturday. Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh emphasised the importance of restoring normalcy before permitting visits. "Give some time, let everything become normal. Right now, we are taking steps to restore trust. After that, we will not stop anyone from visiting. My appeal to everyone is to give some time," Singh said, adding that those involved in the violence would be brought to justice.
More than 300 individuals have been identified in connection with the violence, and evidence collection remains a priority, Singh noted, as per PTI.
Sambhal: UP Congress Delegation To Follow Visit Violence-Hit Area On Dec 2
Meanwhile, Congress state president Ajay Rai announced that a Congress delegation would visit Sambhal on December 2 to assess the situation.
Friday prayers at the Shahi Jama Masjid and other mosques in Sambhal were conducted peacefully amid heightened security, following a violent protest over a court-ordered survey at the Mughal-era mosque. The survey, which led to clashes and four deaths on November 24, had sparked significant unrest in the district.
The district is currently under tight security, with drones deployed overhead, additional police personnel stationed on the ground, and CCTV cameras installed near the disputed mosque for enhanced surveillance. Prohibitory orders have been imposed, barring the entry of outsiders until Saturday. Prior to the Friday prayers, local authorities urged residents to offer their namaz at nearby mosques instead of gathering at the Shahi Jama Masjid.
In a positive development, Internet services were restored in Sambhal at 4 p.m. on Friday, according to District Information Officer Brijesh Kumar.