Another Sambhal Temple Reopens After Decade-Long Closure

Sambhal - A long-closed Radha Krishna Temple in Sambhal's Sarayatareen area has been reopened after authorities discovered its existence and initiated cleaning and restoration work. The temple, built in 1982, had been closed for nearly a decade due to the fear and displacement of the Hindu community following the 1992 riots in Uttar Pradesh.

According to local residents, the temple was once accessible only during occasional festivals. Rishipal Singh, a local resident, stated that the land for the temple was donated by residents of the locality, highlighting the communal harmony that existed before the riots.

Singh explained that the Hindu community began leaving the area after the 1992 riots, fearing for their safety. “Hindus felt unsafe and left the area, visiting the temple only during festivals," Singh said. The reopening of the temple comes shortly after the discovery of another Shiva temple in Sambhal's Khaggu Sarai area. This decades-old Shiva temple had been encroached upon and was found in ruins during an anti-encroachment and power theft drive by the city administration and UP Police.

The reopening of the Radha Krishna Temple and the discovery of the Shiva temple have brought to light the region's tumultuous past, marked by communal unrest, including the 1978 riots. Residents recounted the horrors of the 1978 riots, calling for justice and compensation for the victims. They recalled how the then Congress government failed to respond promptly to the violence, leading to further fear and displacement.

Earlier, a decades-old Shiva temple, in shambles and encroached upon, was found four days ago. The "discovery" came while the city administration along with UP Police conducted a drive against anti-encroachment and power theft.​

According to Sambhal CO Anuj Kumar Chaudhary, there were some inputs about the temple area being encroached upon by residents. "When we inspected the location, we found a temple here," he said.​