MEERUT, Feb. 15 -- Over 300 houses located in Kotgarvi, Nakhasa Tiraha and Hindupura Kheda areas of Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district remain locked even after nearly three months following last November's violence there during the survey of Shahi Jama Masjid in which four people had died and many had suffered injuries, say district police.

The above-mentioned areas are near the site where the violence broke out on November 24 last year involving firing, stone-pelting, arson and vandalism. Authorities are working to gather information about the house owners and the reasons for the widespread abandonment.

Confirming it and saying over 1000 people used to live in these houses, Sambhal superintendent of police (SP) Krishna Kumar Bishnoi told...