Sambhal: Another temple unlocked, ASI team to visit the first one today

This is the second temple unlocked by the district administration in Sambhal in the last few days.

On Saturday, the district administration had reopened a temple at Khaggu Sarai, claiming to have “stumbled upon” it during an ongoing drive against power theft. It was reportedly shut since 1978.

On Sambhal District Magistrate Dr Rajender Pensiya’s request to conduct a scientific investigation of the temple at Khaggu Sarai, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is set to visit the temple on Thursday, officials said.

In Khaggu Sarai, meanwhile, Muslim residents have been demolishing the extended portions of their houses that encroach upon the roads and the temple premises.

“I brought down the construction myself… I realised that it’s incorrect,” said a resident. “The fine they would charge me would be very high… I was scared,” said another who admitted to razing the extended area adjacent to the streets leading to his house.

Local authorities, meanwhile, issued a notice to Samajwadi Party MP Ziyaur Rehman Barq for alleged illegal construction.

“We have served notices to the MP and other residents of the area under the Regulations of Building Operations Act, 1958, because they have constructed, or are constructing structures without getting the maps approved,” said DM Pensiya.

He added that Barq was given 15 days to give a reply after which a fine will be imposed on him.

Barq did not respond to calls or messages.