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

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

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav accused the government of politically motivated actions following the prevention of a party delegation's visit to violence-stricken Sambhal. The administration imposed restrictions,

The Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM further added, "I would like to tell Akhilesh Yadav to take care of your party and not try to spoil the atmosphere of Sambhal or Uttar Pradesh."

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.

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.