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After centuries-old Shiva temple was uncovered in Varanasi, the concerned department is taking swift action. This comes a week after three idols were recovered from a well near the ancient Shiva-Hanuman Temple in Sambhal following the temple's reopening.
"Whatever action has to be taken, has to be done by the Police. I can't make a comment in this regard...Concerned department is taking action...," said Municipal Commissioner of Varanasi, Akshat Verma. Earlier today locked structure, appearing to be a temple, found in a residential area of Varanasi. Police personnel deployed around the temple. Meanwhile, in Sambhal district, the reopened Shiv-Hanuman Temple hosted prayers and rites on Monday. The temple closed since 1978, was reopened on December 14 during an encroachment clearance operation conducted by the local administration and police. During the process, three idols were discovered in a well near the old shrine. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shrish Chandra told ANI, "These are broken idols that were found during the digging of the 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 idols were discovered when it was dug. The area has been secured so that excavation can be done smoothly." On Monday, devotees painted 'Om Namah Shivaya' and 'Har Har Mahadeva' slogans on the walls of the newly discovered temple, he added. Vishnu Sharan Rastogi, patron of the Nagar Hindu Sabha, noted that the temple had been reopened after 46 years. He explained that it had remained closed due to the absence of a resident priest. Sambhal Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vandana Mishra announced plans to restore the original structure of the temple. She stated, "The temple premises have been cleaned, and electricity arrangements have been made. CCTVs are being installed for security. The anti-encroachment drive targeted only structures built on public property. We will restore the temple to its original structure." She added, "We have written to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)... Police will be deployed near the temple." (ANI)
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