Team Clarion
FIROZABAD — Close on the heels of “unearthing” several ‘temples’ in the volatile city of Sambhal, authorities in this historic city of Uttar Pradesh last week began excavating two sites after the purported discovery of “ancient temples” there.
The excavation teams were accompanied by a large posse of policemen stoking fears among the inhabitants of the Muslim-dominated localities.
The digging was being carried out following appeals from members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal who reported the discovery and approached officials to initiate the excavation work.
One of the two sites, located near Mohammadi Masjid in the Kashmiri Gate area under Rasulpur Police Station, was discovered on Wednesday, a Press Trust of India (PTI) report cited police officials as saying.
Police reached out to local Muslim representatives after they were approached for action at the site by the Hindu bodies.
Rasulpur Station Officer Anuj Kumar Singh said, “Following appeals from Hindu organisations, both communities were consulted, and work began peacefully.”
Bajrang Dal district chief Mohan Bajrangi, present at the site, said the structure appeared to be a Shiv temple. “Details about the idols and artifacts will emerge after the excavation is completed,” he said.
Akeel Ahmed, a native of the area, said the area was part of farmland owned by Hindu families till about 60 years ago. It is believed several Hindu families left the place after an increase in the Muslim population.
Another “temple” was discovered in Chishti Nagar’s 60-foot Road area under Ramgarh Police Station.
Rajeev Sharma, president of the Vishva Hindu Parishad’s Firozabad unit, along with his team, cleaned the place in the presence of the police and local Muslims.
Ramgarh SHO Sanjeev Dubey said about 50 years ago the area was dominated by Hindus. There are indications that a temple existed in the area, he said.
In Sambhal, a team led by the District Magistrate (DM) and Superintendent of Police (SP) “stumbled” upon a locked structure during a routine checking of a Muslim area of the violence-hit city on December 14,” media reports said.
