A timeless temple was rediscovered in Khaggu Sarai, Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, evoking memories of the past. Years ago, this area was home to many Hindu families, but the 1978 riots forced them to leave. After 46 years, a couple visited the area once more, reflecting on this significant place and recounting their experiences to Aaj Tak.
Anil Kumar Rastogi recalls, "When the 1978 riots occurred, I hurriedly closed my shop and went home. It was that very evening I discovered my shop had been engulfed in flames." The following day, everything he owned was reduced to ashes.
Source: aajtak
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A Relic from the Riots
"My shop was ablaze and there was chaos everywhere," Rastogi recounts, preserving the memories despite not needing photographs as reminders. "The Chief Minister spoke truthfully, and their actions are just and necessary," he added.
Post-Riots Reality
After the chaos settled, residents accepted that Khaggu Sarai was home to a large Muslim population. Rastogi shares, "I am deeply attached to Sambhal, and each visit isn't complete without seeing our old home. In previous visits, we always found the temple gates shut."
Source: aajtak
Discoveries at the Temple Site
A recent excavation near the reopened temple revealed three significant idols buried for 48 years. The recovered pieces appear to represent deities Parvati, Ganesha, and Lakshmi. The ongoing investigation, protected by a robust police presence, continues to yield findings from 15 to 20 feet deep.
On Saturday, authorities reopened an old Shiva temple in Khaggu Sarai, attracting intrigued onlookers. Simultaneously, exploration around a nearby well revealed more deity artifacts as determined excavations deepened. The site lastly offered reverent spaces as local crowds resumed their prayers.
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A Revelatory Find in the Name of Inquiry
A police team probing electricity theft inadvertently stumbled upon this historic shrine last Saturday, prompting sacred rituals from September 15. This newly found 'Kartik Mahadev' temple includes an ancient 'amrit koop' or nectar well, now under 24-hour security monitored by CCTV. Efforts to remove encroachments include continuous site supervision.
Locals recount historical disruptions due to communal tensions, leading to the remaining Hindu community's displacement. As reported by Vishnu Shankar Rastogi, an 82-year-old lineage protector of the Hindu Mahasabha, post-riot migration caused this cherished family shrine's closure.
The temple lately found near SP MP Ziaur Rahman's residence hosts revered idols including Hanuman, a Shiva Lingam, and Nandi. For security assurance, both District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police oversee protections at the premises.
