<p>Lucknow: Close on the heels of the large-scale violence during a court ordered survey of a mosque in Sambhal in which four persons were killed and scores others injured, an ‘ancient’ Shiva temple was unearthed in a Muslim dominated locality in the town on Saturday.</p><p>According to the officials, the Shiva temple was found inside a house, which had been locked for the past 46 years, by the authorities while they were conducting a drive against encroachment and electricity theft.</p><p>The temple was situated in Mehmoond Khan Sarai locality. District magistrate of Sambhal Rajender Pensia said that an ancient well was also found near the temple.</p>.Sambhal administration reopens old temple closed since 1978 riots.<p>The officials claimed that the temple was more than 500 years old.</p><p>The temple and the well were cleaned under the supervision of the officials. Digging was also being undertaken in the well. Reports said that worshipping started in the temple after it was cleaned.</p><p>Sources said that the owner of the house had left the locality during the communal riots in 1978 and the house was locked since then. There was a shivling inside the temple besides an idol of Lord Hanuman.</p><p>The officials said that there was encroachment around the temple and the same was being removed. ‘’The documents pertaining to the ownership of the house are being examined and the house will be handed over to its owner after ascertaining its ownership,’’ said a senior district official in Sambhal.</p><p>Officials said that a drive was launched in the areas around the mosque against encroachment and electricity theft. Sources said that large scale electricity theft was found in several houses in the locality.</p><p>Four persons were killed and several others, including cops, injured when a mob pelted stones and torched vehicles in the town a few days back during a court ordered survey of the mosque after some Hindu plaintiffs claimed that the mosque had been constructed after demolishing a temple during the Mughal period.</p>
<p>Lucknow: Close on the heels of the large-scale violence during a court ordered survey of a mosque in Sambhal in which four persons were killed and scores others injured, an ‘ancient’ Shiva temple was unearthed in a Muslim dominated locality in the town on Saturday.</p><p>According to the officials, the Shiva temple was found inside a house, which had been locked for the past 46 years, by the authorities while they were conducting a drive against encroachment and electricity theft.</p><p>The temple was situated in Mehmoond Khan Sarai locality. District magistrate of Sambhal Rajender Pensia said that an ancient well was also found near the temple.</p>.Sambhal administration reopens old temple closed since 1978 riots.<p>The officials claimed that the temple was more than 500 years old.</p><p>The temple and the well were cleaned under the supervision of the officials. Digging was also being undertaken in the well. Reports said that worshipping started in the temple after it was cleaned.</p><p>Sources said that the owner of the house had left the locality during the communal riots in 1978 and the house was locked since then. There was a shivling inside the temple besides an idol of Lord Hanuman.</p><p>The officials said that there was encroachment around the temple and the same was being removed. ‘’The documents pertaining to the ownership of the house are being examined and the house will be handed over to its owner after ascertaining its ownership,’’ said a senior district official in Sambhal.</p><p>Officials said that a drive was launched in the areas around the mosque against encroachment and electricity theft. Sources said that large scale electricity theft was found in several houses in the locality.</p><p>Four persons were killed and several others, including cops, injured when a mob pelted stones and torched vehicles in the town a few days back during a court ordered survey of the mosque after some Hindu plaintiffs claimed that the mosque had been constructed after demolishing a temple during the Mughal period.</p>