Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal has now been transformed into a 'sensitive area' where outsiders, social activists, and leaders are barred from entry. District Magistrate Rajendra Pansia has declared that this ban will stay in place until December 10. The controversy centering around the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid has led to the city being effectively locked down. Meanwhile, SP MPs Zia-ur-Rehman Birk and Harendra Malik have been stopped at Hindon Elevated Road on the Ghaziabad border, preventing them from entering Sambhal.
DM Rajendra Pansia has ordered that no one can enter Sambhal without informing an authorized official. Previously, entry for outsiders in the district's borders was banned until December 1, but given the circumstances, it was decided to extend it further. Today, a delegation of Samajwadi Party leaders was to head to Sambhal but was restrained in their respective areas and homes.
SP MP Ruchi Veera has also been stopped by UP Police from going to Sambhal and is reportedly under house arrest at her residence in Muradabad's Civil Lines police station area. Meanwhile, Party MPs Zia-ur-Rehman Birk and Harendra Malik were halted in Ghaziabad.
Muradabad SP district president Jayveer Singh Yadav, Kant MLA and former cabinet minister Kamal Akhtar, along with several SP leaders from Asmoli constituency in Sambhal, were held up by Muradabad Police at Mundapande police station. Kant MLA Kamal Akhtar stated they have been detained.
Ikra Hasan, the MP from Kairana, also set out for Sambhal but was stopped by police at a toll plaza in Hapur. While speaking to the media, MP Ikra Hasan mentioned that they are being prevented from knowing the truth. 'We want to meet the victims in Sambhal, understand their pain, but the police administration is barring us from meeting them,' she added.
The delegation of SP leaders headed for Sambhal included the Leader of Opposition in the UP Legislative Assembly, Mata Prasad Pandey, who questioned, 'What exactly is the government trying to conceal in Sambhal?' He explained that their plan was to visit on Friday, but the administration requested them to wait three days, citing potential disruptions on Friday.
Mata Prasad Pandey narrated that reporters were present in every corner of Sambhal, yet what threat does the SP delegation pose? 'I am the Leader of the Opposition. I have not received any notice from any administrative officer. When SP announced going to Bahraich, we were served a notice by SP Bahraich, after which we did not proceed,' he stated. According to Mata Prasad Pandey's announced program, he initially aimed to visit Bareilly, conduct meetings with leaders, and then plan the Sambhal visit.
SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav also commented on the imposition of restrictions, stating in a social media post, 'Imposing restrictions signifies the failure of the BJP government's governance and administrative management. If the government had imposed such restrictions on those who dreamed of inciting riots earlier, the harmony and peace in Sambhal wouldn't have been disturbed.'
He asserted, 'Just as the BJP changes entire cabinets, similar actions should be taken in Sambhal by suspending the entire administrative circle from top to bottom, charging them with deliberate negligence, and conducting true investigations, dismissals, and possibly filing cases for endangering anyone's life.'
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SP MP Harendra Malik stated, 'We intend to go to assess the situation. We will inform the government of our findings. We have no confidence in the police administration of Sambhal. We are responsible individuals. Our visit won't disturb the environment. Our actions will be documented via videography. We are not seeking to incite anyone.' They further added, 'Either the administration lets us go, or we will go secretly. One way or another, we will reach Sambhal.'
