Muslim residents in Sambhal raze their homes near newly found temple: Report

The Bhasma Shankar Temple, located in Khaggu Sarai near the Shahi Jama Masjid, is believed to be over 500 years old.

In Sambhal, Muslim residents in an area where an "ancient" temple was discovered last week have reportedly started demolishing their own homes, built on encroached temple property.

In response, the district administration has deployed CCTV cameras at the site and initiated a widespread anti-encroachment drive, it has been learnt from a Times of India report.

This comes amid the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation's continued crackdown on power theft in Sambhal's minority-dominated areas. On Tuesday, a smart meter was installed at the residence of Samajwadi Party MP Zia-Ur Rahman, who had recently been served a notice for alleged illegal construction. The power department has detected power theft in several homes, imposing fines totaling Rs 1.3 crore.

The discovery of the Shri Kartik Mahadev Temple, also known as the Bhasma Shankar Temple, took place on December 13 during an anti-encroachment operation. The temple, which houses a Shivling and an idol of Lord Hanuman, had been locked since the 1978 communal riots that displaced the local Hindu community. The authorities are also planning to reopen a nearby well associated with the temple, known as Amrit Koop. The district administration has also requested the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct carbon dating of both the temple and the well to determine their historical age.

The Bhasma Shankar Temple, located in Khaggu Sarai near the Shahi Jama Masjid, is believed to be over 500 years old. Vishnu Shankar Rastogi, an 82-year-old patron of the Nagar Hindu Mahasabha, stated that the temple was once central to the Rastogi community before the 1978 riots forced around 25–30 Hindu families to migrate.

This reopening comes as part of a larger administrative push to address encroachments and other issues in the area. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has described the rediscovery of the temple as a symbol of "our enduring heritage and the truth of our history."

The ongoing anti-encroachment and anti-theft operations are accompanied by heavy police deployment to maintain law and order. This follows violence in Sambhal on November 24, during a court-ordered Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) inspection of Jama Masjid, sparked by claims that the mosque was built on the ruins of a Hindu temple, allegedly demolished during the Mughal period. The violence resulted in five deaths and injuries to 20 police officers.

On November 29, the Supreme Court instructed the Sambhal trial court to halt proceedings related to the mosque until the Allahabad High Court hears the masjid committee's challenge to the survey order.

Furthermore, in addition to the temple discovery, a well near the mosque has been sealed by the municipality, and police forces have been stationed at the site. The well, which had been covered with a marble slab, is now being excavated.