By Adeeba Jamal
The troubles for the Muslim community in Sambhal are far from over. In the Muslim-majority area of Khaggu Sarai, the discovery of a ‘centuries-old’ temple has led to administrative pressure on a nearby family to vacate their home.
According to the family, the district administration wants to demolish their house, claiming that it obstructs Hindu devotees from circumambulating the temple. While three sides of the temple are accessible through alleys, the fourth side—its rear—adjoins the family’s residence.
In the fear of forcefully being kicked out of their house, the family voluntarily demolished a portion of their house. The administration was yet not satisfied and demanded the demolition of the entire building. When the family refused to vacate, police took the head of the family, Mohammad Mateen in custody with the charge of disrupting public peace on the 16th of January.
The forty-year-old Mateen was a driver by profession. He was granted bail and released on January 24.
Last year on December 13, the Sambhal district administration claimed to have ‘discovered’ the long-shuttered Shri Kartik Mahadev Temple (Bhasma ShankarTemple) during an anti-encroachment drive in the Khaggu Sarai locality. Along with that, the temple was reopened for praying purposes.
It is believed that by 2005, all the Hindu population had migrated, thenceforward only prayers took place on special occasions.
This story was originally published in theobserverpost.com. Read the full story here.