Damaged idols found inside Sambhal temple well near Shahi Jama Masjid

Sambhal: Damaged idols were found inside the well of the Bhasma Shankar Temple in Sambhal, which was reopened last week after being shut for 46 years, officials said on Monday. The Shri Kartik Mahadev Temple, also known as the Bhasma Shankar Temple, was reopened on December 13 after authorities uncovered the sealed structure during an anti-encroachment drive. 

The temple, which housed an idol of Lord Hanuman and a Shivling, had remained locked since 1978. Nearby, a well connected to the temple was also set to be reopened as part of the restoration efforts. According to reports, idols of Ganesh, Kartikeya, Lakshmi and Parvati were found in the well.

"These are broken idols that were found during the digging of well. There is an idol of Lord Ganesh. The other one seems to be of Lord Kartikeya, more details are being sought. There was debris and soil in the well. The area has been secured so that excavation can be done smoothly," Sambhal Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shrish Chandra said.

Sanjeev Sharma, who was present at the site, said a damaged Lakshmi idol was also found in the well. A Parvati idol was also found. Satendra Kumar Singh said the Parvati idol was found about 15-20 feet inside the well. Subdivisional Magistrate Vandana Mishra told PTI information was received through the local SHO that the two idols had been found. More details are being gathered, she added.

The temple is situated in the Khaggu Sarai area, just over a kilometre from the Shahi Jama Masjid where violence took place on November 24 during a protest over a court-ordered survey of the mosque. The district administration has written to the Archaeological Survey of India for carbon dating of the temple, including the well. Carbon dating is a method used to determine the age of archaeological artefacts from ancient sites.