Three broken idols of Hindu goddess Parvati and her sons Ganesha and Kartikeya were found on Monday while digging a well in the premises of an “ancient temple” that was reopened two days ago in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district.
The temple in Khaggu Sarai area, which has been closed since 1978, was reopened by the Sambhal district administration, claiming that it had “stumbled” in its campaign against power theft. It is not far from the Shahi Jama Masjid where violence erupted in protest against a court-ordered survey on November 24, killing four people.
“We dug a well outside the temple and recovered three idols. The idols are broken, and we have taken possession of them. An inquiry has been ordered into the cause of the current condition of the temple, which has been closed for the past 46 years. We have installed three CCTV cameras in and around the temple, and a police station will be deployed around the clock to ensure security,” said Shirish Chandra, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Sambhal.
“The well has been dug to a depth of 10 feet, excavation is going on. Police have been instructed to keep the well under police surveillance to prevent anti-social elements from doing any evil, said Superintendent of Police Krishnakant Bishnoi.
With the help of Sambhal police and district administration, local Hindus have been worshiping in the temple The main gate opened Saturday. Officials later said an idol of Hanuman and a Shivlinga were found in the temple. Later on Saturday, the temple was cleaned and the encroachments outside the temple were removed on Sunday.
On Monday local priest Acharya Vinod Shukla dressed the idols of Shiva and Hanuman. “The idols are being worshiped temporarily, later, a permanent priest will be appointed here. The temple is in a dilapidated condition, we hope it will be restored in good condition soon,” he said.
The temple has been closed since 1978, following a notable exodus of Hindus from Sambhal due to violent riots, which reportedly left more than 150 dead and many injured. A curfew was reportedly imposed in Sambhal for almost a month, causing many Hindus in the area to migrate to other places out of fear for their safety or in search of better livelihood opportunities in other cities.
Sambhal BJP chief Harendra Singh along with his supporters also offered pooja inside the temple on Monday morning. “Everyone has heard about the suffering of Hindus fleeing from the (Kashmir) valley when terrorism was at its peak. It is time to understand the suffering of Hindus during the riots 46 years ago,” he said.
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