ASI team members conduct a survey at the ancient Kalki Vishnu temple, in Sambhal on Saturday.
Credit: PTI Photo
Lucknow: An Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team conducted surveys at several ‘ancient’ temples, wells and other religious places in Sambhal, which had witnessed large scale violence during a court mandated survey of a mosque in which four persons were killed, a few days back.
According to the sources, a four-member ASI team on Saturday conducted surveys at the ‘Kalki Vishnu Temple’ and ‘Krishna Koop’ (well), situated barely a few hundred metres away from the Jama Masjid.
Violence had broken out in Sambhal during a court mandated survey at the Jama Masjid after a saffron outfit claimed that it was built after demolishing Harihar Temple by a Muslim emperor.
The ASI team had conducted surveys at 19 ‘koops’ and five ‘teerth’ (religious places) in Sambhal on Friday. The team had also collected samples from the ancient Shiva Temple and a well near the same for carbon dating to ascertain how old it was.
Sambhal district magistrate Rajendra Pensia had written to the ASI to conduct the surveys keeping in view the religious and historical significance of the district. Many of the temples and wells surveyed by the ASI team had been discovered recently during the anti-encroachment drive in the town.
The officials said that the ASI would submit a report to the administration based on which the future course of action would be decided.
Sambhal has been in the limelight after four persons were killed and scores others injured during the court ordered survey of Jama Masjid. The district administration has re-opened the 1978 communal riots cases after UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said in the state assembly that 184 Hindus were killed in the riots, which had lasted for more than two months.