sambhal

Earlier last week, a Shiva-Hanuman Temple in Sambhal was discovered during an anti-encroachment drive. The temple was closed since 1978.

Reports say that this ancient Radha-Krishna Temple was surrounded by Hindu families who had migrated away. The police received information about this abandoned temple and then arrived at the spot and reopened it. The police, however, did not find any signs of illegal encroachment.

When the riots broke out, Banwari Lal urged several Hindu shopkeepers to hide at his brother-in-law Murari Lal’s house. However, Muslim traders tipped off the rioters. A mob of Islamist rioters then broke the gates of Murari Lal’s house using a tractor and brutally killed 24 Hindus.

Sambhal Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishan Kumar and District Magistrate (DM) Rajender Pensiya offered prayers at the newly uncovered Shiv-Hanuman Temple in the district on Sunday.

The comments from CM Yogi Adityanath followed the discovery and reopening of a 400-year-old Lord Shiva and Hanuman temple in Sambhal, which had been closed since 1978.

Aaarti was performed on Sunday morning at the recently reopened Lord Shiva and Hanuman temple in Sambhal.

In Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, a temple was discovered in the Shahi Jama Masjid area that remained closed for over 46 years.

Notably, Zia Ur Rehman Barq is among those charged in connection with the violence unleashed by Islamist mobs on 24th November in response to a court-ordered survey of the disputed Jama Masjid.

In Sambhal, 13 houses were thoroughly searched and of these, 93 packets of smack were recovered from the house of Mulla Asif. Meanwhile, 315 bore pistols were recovered from the houses of Tajwar and Mahbar.

Sambhal Police arrested Asim Raza Zaidi for inciting violence and extorting money in the name of those who died in Sambhal violence on 24th November using a fake journalist identity and a fraudulent QR code. Investigation is underway.