Explainer: Many hidden secrets of curfew, riots and violence will now be revealed from the Shiva temple located in Sambhal! – eSHOP24X7

A 400-year-old Shiva temple has been found in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. This temple was closed since 1978, no one even knew that there could be a Shiva temple at this place. When the administration was inspecting this area on Saturday, December 14, 2024 to catch electricity thieves, this temple was suddenly found while digging with an excavator. Idols of Lord Hanuman, Shiva Linga, Nandi and Kartikeya have been found in this dusty and mud-filled temple and a well has also been found. The police intervened and freed the temple from illegal occupation.

Why was the Shiva temple kept captive?

In such a situation, the question is: on whose instructions was this Shiva temple kept imprisoned for 46 years? Let us tell you that at a distance of barely 200 meters from the temple is the house of SP MP Ziaur Rahman Burke and at a distance of one and a half kilometer is also the Shahi Jama Masjid. The temple is located just 500 meters from the main road. It is said that the history of this temple is between 400 and 500 years, so why did this temple remain closed? Did all this happen as part of some conspiracy?

If I hadn’t found out, they would have captured me.

DM of Sambhal says that this temple is more than 400 years old. There were preparations to capture this temple and if the electricity theft had not been checked, we would never have gotten the temple. He would have been completely captured. It seems that complete preparations were made for the invasion of this Shiva temple. By order of the administration, this temple was opened in the presence of the police and measures were taken with bulldozers to eliminate the encroachment, thanks to which the existence of this closed temple could be saved. In this regard, Kamal Diwakar says that at that time there was an atmosphere of panic, houses of Hindu families were burning, children and women were not safe, so they had to flee.

Why did they close the temple, what is the secret?

This temple was never opened after 1978. It was not just such a thing, but what had happened at that time in the Sambhal district of UP forced the Hindus to flee. In the Khaggusarai area of ​​Sambhal, where the Shiva temple was found, it is claimed that there were a large number of Hindu families there. In 1976 and 1978, two major riots occurred here, after which a large number of Hindus emigrated. The violence that broke out in 1978 was so serious that Parliament even considered sending an inquiry committee to Sambhal.

According to the Dainik Jagran report, Imam Muhammad Hussain of Sambhal Jama Masjid was assassinated in the year 1976. The report by The Print website mentions a conversation with Sushil Gupta, a 55-year-old Hindu resident. He claimed that the Maulana of Sambhal Jama Masjid was murdered in 1976. Parliamentary records and SLM Premchand’s book ‘Mob Violence in India’ published in 1979 claim that the Maulana was murdered by a Hindu. After some time, Maulana’s family moved to Ahirola in Azamgarh, UP and after this riots broke out here. Only after this, this Shiva temple was closed.

History of curfew and riots

Following the violence and riots that broke out in Sambhal, curfew was imposed from March 29, 1978 to May 20. A total of 169 cases were registered in connection with these riots, of which three cases were registered by the police and the remaining cases were registered by people of both the Sambhal sects. During the demonstration held on March 29, 1978, anarchist elements also joined the crowd. At that moment, the dispute between Manjar Shafi and Ranganlal comes to light. During this period, there were arson, looting, and stampedes.

The rumors found their way and the curfew was imposed.

Then various rumors increased the riots and violence. In which they talked about the murder of Manjar Shafi, the demolition of the mosque, the burning of the Pesh Imam, the destruction of the mosque built near the police station and many lootings and murders. In view of the dire situation, the divisional officer immediately issued an order to impose curfew. There were incidents of arson, looting and murder in many places and fires broke out in many places. In the communal riots that followed, between 10 and 12 Hindus were killed in fighting, stone-pelting, looting, arson and shooting. A curfew was imposed for months.

Not once or twice, there have been riots in Sambhal 14 times.

After independence, there have been riots in Sambhal not once or twice, but a total of 14 times, in which conflicts occurred between Hindus and Muslims in 1956, 1959 and 1966. After this, two major riots occurred in 1976 and 1978, in which a large number of people died. Two years later, in 1980, violence broke out here again, in which 14 people lost their lives. Violent incidents also occurred in Sambhal during the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992.