The Bhasma Shankar Temple houses an idol of Lord Hanuman and a Shivling.
Sambhal:
The Sambhal government on Friday reopened a temple that had been closed since 1978 following communal riots in the city.
Officials said the temple, a stone's throw from the Shahi Jama Masjid, was opened after authorities 'stumbled upon' it during an anti-encroachment drive.
The Bhasma Shankar Temple houses an idol of Lord Hanuman and a Shivling.
The temple had remained closed since 1978 following the communal riots that led to the expulsion of the local Hindu community, locals claimed.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Vandana Mishra, who led a campaign against electricity theft in the area, said, “While inspecting the area, we came across this temple. When I noticed it, I immediately informed the district authorities.
“We all came together here and decided to reopen the temple,” Mishra said, adding that the temple had been closed for decades and locals confirmed that it had been locked since 1978.
The temple also has a nearby well that authorities plan to reopen.
Weeks after four people were killed in violence following a court-ordered probe of the Shahi Jama Masjid in this district of Uttar Pradesh, the government has launched a campaign to tackle encroachments and power theft in areas surrounding the Mughal-era mosque .
Local residents shared their memories of the temple, with many emphasizing its importance as a religious site for the community.
The temple, located in Khaggu Sarai, is just over a kilometer away from the Jama Masjid, located in the Kot Garvi area.
Mukesh Rastogi, a resident of Kot Garvi, said, “We had heard a lot about this temple from our ancestors. It is an old temple but it was closed long ago as only a certain community lived there.
“We have heard that this temple must be at least 500 years old,” he said.
Vishnu Shankar Rastogi, 82-year-old patron of the Nagar Hindu Mahasabha, shared his personal connection with the temple.
“I have been living in Khaggu Sarai since birth. After the 1978 riots, our community was forced to leave the area. This temple, dedicated to our Kulguru, has since been closed,” Rastogi said.
“Around 25 to 30 Hindu families, including ours, lived in the Khaggu Sarai area. After the 1978 riots, we sold our house and left this place,” Rastogi said.
He said it is an ancient temple and was known as Bhasma Shankar Temple. It was called the temple of Rastogi community, he added.
“People from our community used to come here for worship,” he said.
Sanjay Sankhydhar, a resident of Sambhal, said he has heard a lot about this temple. “People's sorrow was alleviated by visiting here. But it was closed for a long time. Now people will visit here again and earn the benefits of virtue,” he said.
On November 24, violence had occurred in Sambhal during the survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid. Four people were killed and several, including police personnel, were injured in the violence.
An imam of another mosque in Sambhal was fined Rs 2 lakh on Friday for allegedly using a loudspeaker at high volume, officials said.
According to government officials, the incident took place at Anar Wali Masjid in Kot Garvi area.
The imam was ordered to refrain from similar behavior for the next six months, according to an order from the SDM.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)