In many cities of Uttar Pradesh, closed or illegally occupied temples are being found. This trend that started from Sambhal has now reached Varanasi via Bareilly and Aligarh. Hindu organizations have now started looking for temples everywhere that are mentioned in any religious text or have complaints of illegal occupation.
The search for closed temples has begun in Muslim-populated areas. It started from Sambhal, where one after another, temples that were closed for many years are being found.
After Sambhal, it was claimed that Siddheshwar temple was found in a Muslim area of Varanasi. After this, a closed Shiv temple was found in a Muslim area of Aligarh, and the lock of a temple was opened in Bareilly. It was alleged that a Muslim family was in possession of it.
Let us know where closed temples have been discovered in UP so far. Let us start with Sambhal. Recently, there was a ruckus during the survey of Jama Masjid in Sambhal.
’65 temples are yet to be found’
After this, when the district administration started taking action against encroachment here, then temples and wells started being found one by one. A few days ago, Kartikeya Mahadev temple was found here. Amrit Koop was also found there. After this, now another temple has been found. So far two temples and three wells have been found here. Hindu organizations claim that more than 65 temples and 16 wells are yet to be found at this place.
300 year old Siddheshwar temple found in Varanasi
While the search for the temple was going on in Sambhal, claims were made that a 300-year-old temple has been found in the Muslim-dominated Madanpura area of Varanasi. A temple has been found near house number D-31 near the round platform in Madanpura, Varanasi.
An organization called ‘Dhundhe Kashi’ claimed that it is the 300-year-old Siddheshwar Mahadev temple. Shahabuddin, who lives in the house, said that when our elder Taj Baba bought it from the nobleman of Karkhi state in 1916, the temple had the same form since then. As it looks now, there was no material for worship and no Shivling.
Claim to have found a 50 year old Shiva temple in Aligarh
At present, the Varanasi administration has started scrutinizing the documents of the temple. After the temple was found in Varanasi, it was claimed that a 50-year-old temple was found in Aligarh’s Muslim area Sarai Rehman. There are no idols of gods and goddesses inside the temple. There is a sila patika on top of the temple and a bell is also installed inside the temple.
It was claimed that when the Hindu family migrated from here, they took the idol with them. Recently, during the excavation, a Shivling was found buried under the soil here. Local people claim that no tampering of any kind was done with the temple.
250 year old temple in bareilly
Like Aligarh, there was an allegation of illegal occupation of a temple in the Muslim area of Bareilly. There was a 250-year-old Ganga Maharani temple located in Bakarganj in the Kila police station area, which has been accused of being occupied by the people of the Muslim community.
When the district administration team reached the spot, the Hindu side presented all its documents before the team, while Wahid Ali and his family members living in the temple premises could not show any proof to the district administration. Therefore, the administration has issued instructions to them to vacate the temple premises within a week.
The administration is scrutinizing the documents
So far, along with Sambhal, closed temples in Varanasi, Aligarh and Bareilly have been opened. In Kanpur too, Hindu organizations have set out in search of those temples which are accused of illegal occupation. Religious places mentioned in religious texts are being searched.
At present, the administration is appealing to maintain peace and order and documents are being scrutinized at the places where temples are found. Also, police force has been deployed as a precaution.
