Sambhal Violence: Posters Of 400 Identified Suspects To Be Displayed, Confirms DM

District Magistrate of Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, Rajender Pensiya, announced on Thursday that posters featuring individuals involved in the November 24 violence over a court-ordered mosque survey would be displayed.

According to the DM, over 400 people have been identified, and 32 arrests have been made in connection with the unrest. A peace committee meeting was scheduled for 3 pm on Thursday to discuss the number of individuals whose names would feature on the posters.

"We are currently designing the posters, and they will be finalised today. After excluding those already arrested, the posters will be displayed," Pensiya told news agency PTI.

The violence in Sambhal occurred during an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) examination of a Mughal-era mosque, following a local court petition alleging the mosque had been built on the site of a Harihar temple. The clashes resulted in four fatalities and multiple injuries among police and locals.

Rahul Gandhi Prevented from Visiting Sambhal

On Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was stopped at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh Ghazipur border while attempting to visit Sambhal with his sister, MP Priyanka Gandhi.

Criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rahul Gandhi called the restrictions unconstitutional, stating it was his duty to visit Sambhal.

In a post on X, he wrote in Hindi: "The police stopped us from going to Sambhal. As the Leader of the Opposition, it is my right and duty to go there. Yet I was stopped. I am willing to go alone, but even that was not allowed. This is against the Constitution. Why is the BJP afraid? Why is it using the police to conceal its failures? Why is it suppressing the message of truth and brotherhood?"

He also shared a video of his exchange with a police officer.

Meanwhile, heavy barricading at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh Ghazipur border on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway caused significant traffic disruption on Wednesday morning. Congress workers gathered in defiance of the restrictions, leading to severe congestion for commuters. While the carriageway from Delhi to Uttar Pradesh was heavily jammed, the opposite lane experienced slow-moving traffic.