Speculation about Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi visiting the city has kept the police administration on high alert
Team Clarion
HAPUR — Five MPs from Kerala, including senior leaders of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), were barred from a visit to the violence-hit Uttar Pradesh city of Sambhal on Wednesday. The MPs intended to assess the volatile situation following a court-mandated survey of the city’s Jama Masjid, but were stopped at the Chhijarsi toll plaza and prevented from proceeding any further.
Despite their insistence, the MPs were turned back by police after a long discussion, citing the risk of escalating tensions.
The unrest stems from a claim presented to the Civil Judge (Senior Division) Court on November 19, alleging that the Jama Masjid in Sambhal was originally a temple. The court ordered an immediate survey of the mosque, appointing senior advocate Ramesh Raghav as Advocate Commissioner. Videography of the mosque was conducted on the same day and later on November 24, triggering communal violence.
The clashes have left at least six people dead, with police filing cases against prominent local leaders, including Sambhal MP Ziaur Rahman Burq and MLA Iqbal Mahmood’s son, Sohail Iqbal. Over 20 individuals, including Jama Masjid’s Sadar Zafar Ali, have been detained.
On Wednesday afternoon, a convoy comprising IUML MPs PV Abdul Wahab, Harris Beeran, ET Mohammed Basheer, Navas Ghani, and AKA Abdul Samad reached the Chhijarsi toll plaza in Pilkhuwa, intending to visit Sambhal. The MPs, riding in two vehicles, were stopped by Hapur police, who had been stationed at the toll plaza for two days.
The MPs asserted their right to visit Sambhal to assess the situation firsthand. However, senior police and administrative officials persuaded them to return back, arguing that their visit could further inflame the already fragile atmosphere. After a prolonged dialogue, the MPs reluctantly agreed to return.
Speculation about Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi visiting Sambhal has kept the police administration on high alert. For two consecutive days, officials, including SDM Lavi Tripathi and CO Anita Chauhan, have been deployed at Chhijarsi toll plaza alongside a significant police force to monitor the situation.
Although neither of the Gandhis has made an appearance, their potential visit has intensified administrative vigilance in the region.
The Sambhal violence has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who accuse the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government of mishandling the situation. Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party chief Swami Prasad Maurya recently blamed the government for deliberately stoking communal tensions, citing the involvement of religious slogans during the mosque survey.
Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey alleged that the state administration is biased against specific communities, further accusing the police of using illegal methods to suppress dissent.
The Kerala MPs criticised the police’s decision to bar them from visiting Sambhal. Speaking to the media, Abdul Wahab said, “We wanted to understand the ground reality and assess the conditions after such a tragic incident. Denying us entry only raises further questions about the government’s accountability.”
Community leaders and activists have called for restraint and dialogue to defuse tensions. As Sambhal grapples with the aftermath of the violence, the incident underscores the need for sensitivity in addressing disputes over religious sites.
With the situation still volatile, all eyes remain on the government’s next steps in ensuring peace and accountability in the region.