ASI inspects historic well found at demolished mosque site in Saharanpur Collectorate

Speaking to ANI, Manoj Kumar Yadav of the Uttar Pradesh State Archaeology Department said the purpose of the inspection was to determine the antiquity and nature of the structure and establish its historical relevance.

"Our primary objective in visiting here was to determine the antiquity of the structure found there. Secondly, we wanted to understand the nature of the structure itself. We also aimed to correlate it with history to understand what it relates to," Yadav said.

He said that during the inspection, the structure appeared to be a well, which was filled with debris that had fallen inside. The well measures around 20 feet in height from the surface level and has a diameter of nearly three feet.

"The structure is made using Lakhori bricks. The binding mortar used is a lime-surkhi mixture, and at a depth of three feet from the top surface, there is a thin layer of lime plaster," he said.

Yadav added that such structures, built using similar techniques, are commonly found in the Upper and Middle Ganga Valley regions and are generally associated with the later mediaeval period.

The inspection was followed by the demolition of a mosque located inside the Sharanpur collectorate premises in the early hours of Saturday after a court order upheld its removal.

The District Judge's court on September 4 dismissed an appeal filed by the mosque committee and upheld an earlier order passed by the City Magistrate.

The City Magistrate's court had on July 17 ordered demolition of the structure and imposed compensation of approximately Rs 6.41 crore in connection with alleged encroachment and misuse of government land.

Authorities have maintained that the demolition was carried out in accordance with the court's directions and legal procedures. (ANI)