Sambhal: ASI Inspects Ancient Well At Kalki Vishnu Temple, Administration’s Anti-Encroachment Drive Continues

Sambhal News: An ASI team surveyed an ancient well at the Kalki Vishnu temple. The team also inspected the recently discovered Shri Kartik Mahadev temple and other pilgrimage sites.

An Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team inspected an old well at the Kalki Vishnu temple premises in Sambhal on Saturday, following their survey of a recently discovered temple in the district the day before. The priest of the Kalki Vishnu temple, Mahendra Prasad Sharma, expressed his satisfaction with the visit, stating, "It is good that the survey team came for a visit. There is a 'krish koop' (well) here. It is not closed, but there is no water in it. This well is mentioned in the 'Skanda Purana' along with all pilgrimage sites of Sambhal... this well is on the temple premises, inside the old boundary."

Sambhal Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Vandana Mishra, speaking to news agency PTI, confirmed the visit by the ASI team, saying, "A team of the ASI visited the 'Kalki Vishnu' temple. There is a 'krish koop' here which is said to be an ancient well. Its age is yet to be determined. The team stayed for about 15 minutes and also visited the temple."

Sambhal  News: ASI Team's Survey Of Shri Kartik Mahadev Temple

On Friday, a four-member ASI team surveyed the recently-discovered Shri Kartik Mahadev temple, five pilgrimage sites, and 19 'koops' (wells). The Kartik Mahadev temple, also known as the Bhasma Shankar temple, was reopened on December 13 after being uncovered during an anti-encroachment drive. The temple houses an idol of Lord Hanuman and a shivling and had been locked since 1978. Authorities are also working to reopen a well near the temple.

Sambhal District Magistrate, Rajender Pensiya, had previously informed reporters that excavation work at the ancient temple and well was underway. Located in the Khaggu Sarai area, the temple is situated just over a kilometre from the Shahi Jama Masjid of Sambhal, PTI reported.

Uttar Pradesh Administration continued an anti-encroachment drive in Sambhal.

Speaking about it, Executive Engineer of Sambhal Nagar Palika, Mani Bhushan Tiwari told news agency ANI, "Our campaign 'Sambhal Teerth' is running here. In this, we are working on how can we revive our pilgrimages, temples, their renovation and traditions...We have also started digging at several places. We have also made a plan for their beautification."

"The main objective of our encroachment drive is to take care of our drains, public places, our markets where people have encroached. First, we made announcements for this, contacted people, and also held a meeting with the public and after everyone's consensus, we started the encroachment drive. The message is very good that the traders of Sambhal, through their own means, demolished all the encroachments in their market area. It gave a very good message of public participation," he elaborated.

These developments come after violence erupted on November 24 during a protest over a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque in Sambhal, resulting in four fatalities and several injuries, including police personnel. The Supreme Court of India, on December 12, issued a directive restraining courts from entertaining new lawsuits or passing any interim or final orders related to reclaiming religious places, particularly mosques and dargahs.