20-Foot Deep Well Unearthed at Demolished Saharanpur Mosque Site
· India · Indian Express, Times of India
A 20-foot-deep well was discovered beneath the debris of a demolished mosque in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, after a district court ruled the structure unauthorised on government land. The well, covered by a stone slab, was exposed when a bulldozer got stuck during demolition, prompting district officials to cover it temporarily and deploy police to secure the site. The mosque was evicted following a July court order under the Uttar Pradesh Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1972, with a penalty of Rs 6.41 crore imposed on the occupants. Authorities are considering involving the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to assess the well’s historical significance, while the mosque’s mutwali alleges the demolition lacked due process. The district administration has not yet decided on further action regarding the well.
Why it matters
The discovery raises questions about potential archaeological or historical value at the site, which could impact legal proceedings and public perception of the eviction. Residents and religious leaders may challenge the demolition’s legitimacy further, while the state administration faces scrutiny over the handling of cultural heritage at the location.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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