Another temple in Sambhal: 152-year-old Banke Bihari ancient temple found in Muslim settlement; now in ruins

Posted on 18th Dec 2024 by rohit kumar

After finding the ancient temple in Sambhal, now a 152-year-old Banke Bihari ancient temple has been found in Muslim-dominated Laxmanganj in Chandausi. This temple is now in ruins. It is claimed that after the migration of Hindus in the year 2010, miscreants vandalized the idols. Due to a lack of maintenance in the area surrounded by the Muslim population, this temple has gradually lost its existence.

 

The name of Laxmanganj Mohalla of Chandausi identifies it with Sanatan. But at present the population here is 100% Muslim-dominated. Till 25 years ago, there was a large population of Hindus here, but gradually the Muslim population increased here. After this, the migration of Hindus started, which affected the 152-year-old Banke Bihari temple present here. Earlier, worship used to take place in this temple in the morning and evening.

 

People of the Hindu community used to come for darshan. According to Krishna Kumar, who was the custodian of the temple, worship used to take place in the temple till the year 2010. This year, miscreants vandalized the idol of Lord Banke Bihari and other idols including Shivlinga installed in the temple. Police action was also taken, but then no attention was paid to it. Gradually, the gates, shikhara, etc. of the temple were vandalized. The temple has completely turned into ruins. Here, instead of idols, their marks are visible in the temple.

 

Another temple closed for 32 years in Sambhal opened.

 

The ancient Radha-Krishna temple located in Mohalla Kachhwayan, which was closed since the riots in Sambhal in 1992, was opened by the administration on Tuesday after 32 years. After cleaning the temple, people have started worshipping. Force has been deployed for the security of the temple. City resident Sumit Kumar Saini said that before 1992, Mohalla Kachhwayan had a mixed population.

 

200 families of the Saini community lived here. But when the riots broke out in 1992, the people of the Saini community were very scared due to the locality being Muslim dominated.

 

After that people slowly started migrating. In a short time, all the families of the Saini community sold their houses to Muslims and settled in Hindu-dominated areas. After which the temple was closed. Due to being a Muslim-dominated area, people of the Saini community did not come for regular worship.

 

He said that the key to the lock of the temple was with his brother Kalluram Saini. The temple is opened only on the occasion of the festival. Regular worship has not been done for 32 years. Now this temple has been opened on the initiative of the police-administration. Now regular worship will be done. After the opening of the doors of another temple in Sambhal, there is an atmosphere of happiness among the people of the Hindu community. People reached the temple and took darshan and prayed and wished for prosperity.

 

Families had migrated out of fear after the riots.

After independence, Sambhal was burnt again and again in the fire of riots. Dozens of people from both communities had to pay the price of riots and chaos with their lives. Whenever riots happened, scared Hindus migrated from Muslim-dominated areas. They even sold their houses and property at throw-away prices.

 

People of the Saini community who migrated from Mohalla Kachwayan said that when riots happened in 1992, fear started haunting them day and night. So gradually all the families migrated from the locality. Everyone sold their houses and the ancient temple of Radha Krishna was also locked.

 

Resident Rishipal Singh Saini said that the temple is in a Muslim area. So no one dared to open the temple regularly. The temple was opened only on festivals and was closed after performing the puja. This trend has been going on for the last 32 years. He said that the renovation was done in 1982. The temple is about 200 years old. The faith of the Saini community has been associated with this temple.

 

The temple was closed. Police were informed about this. The temple has been cleaned under police supervision. Policemen have been deployed for security. Now people have made preparations to do regular worship.

 

Hindus said...

After the riots, Hindu families were scared. So they sold their houses and left. There was no protest against opening the temple, but there was a fear of disputes about opening this temple among Muslim families. -Sumit Kumar, Sarayatri

 

During the riots, all the families migrated. The key to the lock of the temple was with Kalluram Saini. There was no restriction, but worship was not done regularly in the Muslim-dominated area. -Rishi pal Singh, Sarayatri

 

Muslims said

 

Slowly, the people of the Saini community sold their houses and left the locality. After which the temple was closed. The lock that was put on it remained the same. The temple was closed at will and opened at will. No one ever objected. -Mohd. Sain, Sarayatri

 

The Saini family had sold their expensive land and built houses by buying cheap land. Along with this, they also bought agricultural land there. The temple keeps opening. No Muslim objected to the opening of this temple or the worship taking place there. - Mohammad Aslam, Sarayatri