Local administration in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal District has extended ban on entry of outsiders in order to maintain peace in the region. The ban has now been extended to December 10. Notably, the extension came on a day 15-member delegation from Samajwadi Party was due to visit the district to gain more information about the violence that erupted at the time of court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid.
The ban imposed earlier was to expire on Saturday (November 30).
Additionally, restrictions under Section 163 (power to issue order in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita were extended to December 31. The restrictions were to expire on Sunday.
"To maintain peace and order, the imposition of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita in the district has been extended to December 31," announced District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya on Saturday.
"No outsider, any social organisation or public representative can enter into the borders of the district without seeking the permission of the competent authority till December 10," Prasad said further.
Sambhal has seen violent clashes and tense situation prevails in the area after November 19, when a court-ordered survey was carried out. The survey was carried out at the Shahi Jama Masjid after a petition claiming that a Harihar Mandir was present at the location before the masjid was built.
Violence erupted again at the time of second survey on Novemeber 24 as protesters clashed with security personnel. Four people were killed.
Supreme Court of India has taken cognisance of the situation and has asked trial court to stop the survey and also proceedings in the case.
Samajwadi Party Criticises Extension Of Ban
"I don't understand why we are being stopped. Are the opposition leader and the MPs so irresponsible that they can't be allowed to move within the state?" asked Harendra Malik, Samajwadi Party MP from Muzaffarnagar.
He was stopped in Gaziabad as he tried entering Sambhal.
"Our delegation also included MPs Zia-ur-Rehman Barq (Sambhal) and Iqra Hasan (Kairana). What can we do? The government is acting in an autocratic manner," Malik said.
