3 broken idols recovered while digging well outside reopened ‘ancient temple’ in UP’s Sambhal

“We have recovered three idols by digging a well outside the temple. The idols are broken, and we have taken them into our possession. An inquiry has been ordered to investigate what led to the current state of the temple, which has reportedly been closed for the last 46 years. We have installed three CCTV cameras in and around the temple, and a police picket will remain deployed around the clock to ensure safety,” said Shirish Chandra, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Sambhal.

“The well has been excavated to a depth of 10 feet, and the digging will continue. Directives have been issued for the well to remain under police surveillance to prevent any mischief by anti-social elements,” said Krishna Kant Bishnoi, Superintendent of Police.

Local Hindus have been performing puja at the temple since the Sambhal police and district administration unlocked the main gate on Saturday. Officials then said a Hanuman statue and a Shivling were found at the temple. Later on Saturday, the temple was cleaned and on Sunday, the encroachments outside the temple were removed.

The idols of Lord Shiva and Hanuman were dressed by a local priest, Acharya Vinod Shukla, on Monday. “The idols are being temporarily worshipped, and later, a permanent priest will be appointed here. The temple is in a dilapidated condition, and we hope that it will soon be restored to proper condition,” he said.

The temple has been closed since 1978, following a significant exodus of Hindus from Sambhal due to violent riots that reportedly resulted in over 150 deaths and many injuries. A curfew was reportedly imposed in Sambhal for nearly a month, leading many Hindus in the area to migrate to other locations 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 performed a puja inside the temple on Monday morning. “Everyone has heard about the suffering of Hindus during the exodus from the (Kashmir) valley when terrorism was at its peak. It is high time that the pain of Hindus during the riots 46 years ago is recognised,” he said.