After 46 Years, A Temple In Sambhal Reopened Amid An Encroachment Drive

Sambhal (UP), 14th December 2024: During a thorough encroachment removal effort, the Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, police and administration found and reopened a temple that had purportedly been encroached upon for decades. According to reports, the temple, which houses images of Lord Shiva and Lord Hanuman, was last open in 1978.

Circle Officer Anuj Kumar Chaudhary attested to learning about the encroachment and finding the temple while conducting an examination. The idols have been cleansed, and those who were in charge of the encroachments—which included homes constructed on the property—will face consequences.

The Nagar Hindu Sabha’s patron, Vishnu Sharan Rastogi, highlighted the temple’s historical value, which includes an old well. Hindu family who had previously lived in the area moved for unknown reasons.

Other areas of Sambhal are also being targeted by the district administration’s continuous anti-encroachment effort, which addresses alleged electricity theft and unlawful structures near drains. The drive will go for two to three months, according to District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya, with the goal of removing all encroachments and eliminating electricity theft from the district.

This comes after recent rioting over a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid that was ordered by the court and led to four fatalities. In order to enforce more compliance, authorities are looking into people who profit from illicit electricity connections under the jurisdiction of the Nakhasa police station.