Several Samajwadi Party (SP) lawmakers, including its Sambhal MP, were stopped from entering the violence-hit Sambhal district on Saturday as the administration extended a ban on the entry of outsider

The Sambhal district administration has heightened security in the Shahi Jama Masjid area and has issued orders to prohibit entry of outsiders till December 10. The district administration’s orders come amidst the Samajwadi Party delegation’s move to visit the families of those affected by the violence.

The situation in Sambhal has been tense since the first survey of the city's Jama Masjid was conducted on November 19 on the orders of a local court. The petitioner has claimed that Jama Masjid stands on a previous Harihar temple.

Sambhal District Magistrate said to maintain peace and order, the imposition of Section 163 of the BNSS in the district has been extended to Dec 31

A Samajwadi Party delegation heading to violence-hit Sambhal were detained after the district administration prohibited the entry of outsiders there till December 10, drawing criticism from its chief Akhilesh Yadav.

On his visit to Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh Assembly LoP and Samajwadi party leader Mata Prasad Pandey asserted that Sambhal DM asked him not to visit there. On Saturday, Pandey criticised the administration for deploying police outside his residence without notice.

Police were deployed at Samajwadi Party leader Mata Prasad Pandey's residence on Saturday to prevent a 15-member delegation from visiting violence-hit Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh. Sambhal district administration has prohibited entry of outsiders till December 10.