Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, heading towards violence-hit Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh, were stopped at the Ghazipur border between Delhi and Noida, causing a high-voltage drama. Rahul Gandhi stepped out of the vehicle and engaged in a discussion with senior police officers but was not permitted to proceed further as hundreds of Congress workers continued solving.
Heavy chaos was witnessed at the border as the police blocked the highway, leading to massive traffic jams. Barricades were placed across the road, bringing traffic to a standstill, and Congress workers were seen attempting to climb over the barricades.
The leaders left Delhi at around 10.15 am and reached the border at around 11 am. However, their convoy was unable to move further.
Sambhal authorities had requested neighbouring districts to stop the Congress leaders before they enter the district. The District Magistrate has written to officers in Bulandshahr, Amroha, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar, appealing to them to intercept the Gandhis at the border. He has also instructed the officials to closely monitor Rahul Gandhi's activities on his way to Sambhal.
Barricades have been placed at various locations, and vehicle inspections have been initiated on the Delhi-Sambhal route. Massive traffic jams were reported at different points on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway.
The Congress leaders are attempting to visit Sambhal amid restrictions barring the entry of outsiders to the area until December 10, which were imposed after violence erupted over a survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid, following a petition that claimed the site previously had a Harihar temple.
Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 (formerly known as Section 144) has been invoked in Sambhal, prohibiting the gathering of five or more people. "If they come, then they will be served a notice,” Superintendent of Police of Sambhal Krishan Kumar said.
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, along with Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, left for Sambhal from Delhi by road at around 10.15 am and are expected to reach there by around 1 pm. After the visit, he is expected to return by 2.30 pm and reach Delhi by 3.30 pm, party sources said. Along with the Gandhis, five Congress MPs from Uttar Pradesh are also expected to visit Sambhal.
Congress leaders slammed the directions and restrictions imposed by the Sambhal authorities to bar the entry of the party delegation. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called it "a dictatorship" and added, "We were going to Sambhal peacefully, but we are being stopped. There were riots in Sambhal, which is why we are going there. We have the right to go there". Congress UP chief Ajay Rai called it "the murder of democracy through the blatant misuse of police".
The Uttar Pradesh Police said that a forensic team investigating the Sambhal violence site recovered six empty cartridges made in Pakistan. Sambhal Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar also stated that the assistance of the anti-terror agency NIA will be sought in the matter.
"The forensic team had to reach the spot today (Tuesday) and investigate the incident that occurred on 24th November. Some shells buried in the ground have been recovered. 'POF', ie, Pakistan Ordnance Factory, is written on one shell, and 'FN Star' is written on another shell," the officer said.
He termed it a “very serious matter and help from other agencies will also be taken for its investigation. NIA's help will also be taken”.
