SAMHBAL, Dec 14 – Local authorities in Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh have reopened a historic temple that had been locked for 46 years following communal riots in 1978. The reopening of the Bhasma Shankar temple, located in the Khaggu Sarai area, comes as part of an anti-encroachment campaign.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vandana Mishra, who discovered the temple during an inspection linked to a crackdown on electricity theft, said she immediately informed senior officials upon finding the site.
“We all came here together and decided to reopen the temple,” Mishra told reporters. “The temple had been closed for decades, and local residents confirmed it had been locked since the riots in 1978.”
The temple, which houses a Shivling and an idol of Lord Hanuman, had been a key religious site for the Hindu community in the area before communal violence forced their displacement. The nearby well at the site is also slated for restoration, authorities said.
Historical Significance
Residents shared memories of the temple, underscoring its cultural and religious importance. Vishnu Shankar Rastogi, an 82-year-old member of the Nagar Hindu Mahasabha, recounted his connection to the temple.
“After the 1978 riots, our community was forced to migrate from the area,” Rastogi said. “This temple, dedicated to our Kulguru, has remained locked since then.”
Tensions in the Region
The temple’s reopening follows weeks of heightened tensions in Sambhal. Violence erupted on November 24 during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, located approximately one kilometer from the temple. Four people died and several others, including police officers, were injured in the unrest.
In a related development, an imam from the Anar Wali Masjid in the Kot Garvi area was fined Rs 2 lakh on Friday for allegedly using loudspeakers at excessive volume. Authorities directed him to avoid similar conduct for the next six months, according to official statements.
(Inputs from news agencies)
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