SHAMLI: A temple, believed to be over 50 years old and left abandoned for nearly 34 years, was ‘discovered’ in Salma Haqan locality of Khurja Kotwali Nagar in Bulandshahr area of UP on Sunday. The shrine is located in a neighbourhood predominantly inhabited by Muslim families.
The development follows a similar case in Sambhal, where a long-abandoned temple was recently reopened. Significantly, Muslim families residing in Salma Haqan locality warmly greeted those visiting the temple site after over three decades and also extended their support to them.
President of Jatav Vikas Manch, Kailash Bhagmal Gautam, said that around 60 Jatav community families used to reside there and probably left during the 1990 riots. After years of neglect, the temple was in a dilapidated condition.
Gautam, along with Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) functionaries, visited the site and assessed the condition of the structure. Sunil Solanki, office-bearer of VHP’s Meerut region, submitted a memorandum addressed to Bulandshahr DM, seeking the removal of encroachments around the temple and its repair. “Our aim is to restore the temple’s sanctity and revive its religious significance,” Solanki said.
SDM Khurja, Durgesh Singh, said, “The area is entirely peaceful, and there has never been any dispute over the temple, either in the past or present. Locals informed us that the temple was originally built by the Jatav community. The community left the locality, and also reportedly took the idols with them and immersed them in a nearby river.”
