Sambhal: Heavy security deployed ahead of anti-encroachment drive near Shahi Jama Masjid | Lucknow News
SAMBHAL: Security officials, including the Rapid Response Force and police personnel, have been deployed near Sambhal’s Shahi Jama Masjid as the district administration plans to clear illegal encroachments near the mosque’s cemetery on Tuesday. SP Kuldeep Singh said, “Adequate police force, including 9 SHOs, three inspector rank officers and one company each of PAC and RRF, are deployed. A team with drones has also been engaged.” On November 24, police and district administration officials conducted a flag march in Sambhal as part of efforts to create a sense of security among people. The march coincided with the completion of one year since violence in the city that claimed four lives, according to news agency ANI. District Magistrate Rajendra Pensia said, “This is part of our regular administrative process, involving a full police and administrative team that carries out flag marches routinely. They do so in the mornings and evenings. These marches also occur at the local level, with district officers participating as well. This instils a sense of security and trust in the people towards the police and administration.” On November 17, chief minister Yogi Adityanath held a review meeting in Sambhal, assessing ongoing development works and the law-and-order situation. He directed government and district officials to develop Sambhal in a phased manner, emphasizing that the district’s development is a key government priority, a release said. In the first phase, he instructed officials to restore ancient pilgrimage sites and traditional wells. The second phase should focus on projects such as a museum and light-and-sound facilities. He also called for swift action on the construction of the District Court, jail, and PAC unit in Sambhal. The Chief Minister reviewed the performance of several departments, including Revenue, Home, Justice, Charitable Works, PWD, Tourism-Culture, and Urban Development. He noted that Sambhal has 68 pilgrimage sites and 19 wells, and the government is working to identify and restore them. He instructed the local administration to accelerate these efforts. Violence had erupted in Sambhal on November 24, 2024, during a survey by the Archaeological Survey of India of a Mughal-era mosque, which led to four deaths and injuries among police and locals. The survey was part of a legal process following a petition filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shanker Jain, who claimed the mosque was originally a temple.
