Cong team slips into Sambhal, meets kin of violence victims

Bareilly: With Congress leader and LoP Rahul Gandhi set to visit violence-hit Sambhal, a party delegation comprising mainly state functionaries slipped into the UP town on Tuesday. Local police said that they found out when the team had already met some families of those who died in the Nov 24 violence and were about to leave the district. Notably, prohibitory orders are in place in the district until Dec 10.

The delegation included general secretary of UP Congress Committee (UPCC) Sachin Chaudhary and its vice-president Rizwan Qureshi along with national secretary at All India Congress Committee Pradeep Narwal and a few members of Gandhi’s team. They also facilitated a phone call between Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the victims’ kin.

Chaudhary said, “We met the families of Bilal and Numaan, who were killed in the violence. We also facilitated a telephonic conversation with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Rahul is expected to come to Sambhal on Wednesday to meet the families of the victims.”

Qureshi added, “Rahul would leave from Delhi for Sambhal around 7am. We have prepared a roadmap for his visit.” Notably, Sambhal DM Rajendra Pensiya has written to the police chiefs of Noida, Amroha, Ghaziabad and Bulandshahr and alerted them about Gandhi’s visit.

A delegation from Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) also visited the violence-hit town and provided “financial assistance — cheques of Rs 5 lakh each — to the families of the deceased later at a local madrassa”.

Moradabad’s divisional commissioner Aunjaneya Singh told TOI: “We’re not stopping any locals from meeting the families. The restrictions are there until Dec 10 and may be lifted early. Our priority is to maintain peace in Sambhal. We’ll also be recording the statement of the families soon and ensure a fair investigation in the FIRs lodged by them.”

On Gandhi’s visit, SP (Sambhal) KK Bishnoi said, “All public representatives have been requested not to come here till Dec 10. I hope they will cooperate with us in maintaining peace here.”

Courtesy : TOI

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