Delhi-Meerut Expressway: Traffic movement slowed down on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway near the Ghazipur border on Wednesday morning, December 4, as part of heavy security deployment for the scheduled visit of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi to Uttar Pradesh's violence-hit Sambhal district. They are likely to meet the families of those killed in the November 24 unrest.

The traffic snarls intensified as both Congress leaders were stopped. Several party workers were also present. 

Taking to news agency ANI, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "Rahul Gandhi is the leader of the opposition and it is his constitutional right. He should have been allowed to go (to Sambhal)." 

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Rahul Gandhi's Sambhal Visit

After the Congress party announced a visit by its delegation headed by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to the violence-hit Sambhal on Wednesday, the District Magistrate had written letters to the authorities in bordering districts to stop INC leaders at their borders. A letter issued in this regard stated that due to Section 163 of Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita in the district, no person from outside will be allowed to enter.

According to news agency ANI, DM Sambhal has written letters to the officers of neighbouring districts Bulandshahr, Amroha, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar. This comes after Uttar Pradesh Congress Chief Ajay Rai announced that Rahul along with newly elected Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi will visit the people affected during the riots which took place earlier last week.

Meanwhile, the Superintendent of Police of Sambhal Krishan Kumar told the news agency PTI that Section 163 of the BNSS is imposed in Sambhal.

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"No outsider is allowed (to enter Sambhal). If they come, then they will be served a notice," the SP said.

Sambhal has remained a flashpoint since November 19, when a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque was conducted amid claims that a Harihar temple once existed at the site. Tensions escalated during a second survey on November 24, leading to violent clashes between protesters and security forces near the Shahi Jama Masjid. The unrest resulted in four fatalities and left several others injured.

"...it is requested that considering the communal sensitivity of Sambhal district, vigilant monitoring of the proposed activities of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi Ji be ensured, and appropriate arrangements be made to prevent him from entering the boundaries of the district. Kindly direct the concerned authorities to take necessary action in this regard," the letter written by DM Sambhal added.