In a bid to maintain peace and order, the Sambhal district administration has prohibited the entry of outsiders till December 10.¹ This move comes after a 15-member delegation of the Samajwadi Party (SP) was detained while heading to Sambhal to gather information about the recent violence in the area.

The SP delegation, led by Leader of Opposition in Uttar Pradesh Assembly Mata Prasad Pandey, was stopped by the authorities, citing the restrictions imposed by the district administration. Pandey claimed that the government was trying to hide its wrongdoings in Sambhal by preventing the SP delegation from visiting the area.

The situation in Sambhal has been tense since the survey of the Jama Masjid complex was conducted on November 19. The survey was ordered by a local court, following a petition claiming that the mosque stands on the site of an ancient Hindu temple. The violence that erupted on November 24 resulted in four deaths and several injuries.

The district administration has imposed prohibitory orders in the district, and heavy security has been deployed to maintain law and order. The Congress party has also announced plans to send a delegation to Sambhal on December 2.