Rahul Gandhi, all UP Congress MPs to visit violence-hit Sambhal tomorrow | India News
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by five other party MPs, are set to visit Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday to evaluate the aftermath of the recent unrest during the Archaeological Survey of India‘s (ASI) examination of the Mughal-era mosque on November 24.
Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai indicated that Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra might also join the leader of opposition to visit Sambhal, where five people lost their lives during the unrest.
“Police are stopping us (from going to Sambhal). Earlier, they gave us the time for December 2. I just want to ask that if we cannot ask about the well-being of the victims, isn’t it a matter of shame? We demand a CBI inquiry into the matter,” Congress leader Sachin Chaudhary told news agency ANI.
“We will leave at 1 PM for Sambhal and will reach by 2 PM. Police have been there at my residence since morning,” he added.
Earlier last week on Wednesday, November 27, Divisional Commissioner of Moradabad Division Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said twenty-seven people have been arrested in connection with the Sambhal violence.
“Police have registered a total of 7 FIRs so far, 4 of these have been registered by the families of the deceased. A total of 27 people have been arrested, of these 3 are women and 3 are juveniles. The juveniles have been sent to juvenile homes. 74 people have been identified with the help of people, camera and video footage. Identification of others is being done. We have also issued their videos and photos to seek help from the people so that they can be easily identified,” Divisional Commissioner of Moradabad Division Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said.
Ealier on Monday, UP Police issued a notice to Congress state president Ajay Rai, advising against visiting violence-hit Sambhal.
The tensions stemmed from a court-ordered survey of the Jama Masjid, initiated following a petition by senior advocate Vishnu Shanker Jain, who claimed the mosque was originally a temple.
Since November 19, the situation in Sambhal has been volatile, with violent clashes between protesters and police leaving at least five dead and several injured, including over 20 police personnel.
