CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: The discovery of an old well beneath the debris after the removal of a mosque located in the collectorate premises in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has intensified the controversy. After information about the well came to light, Hindu organisations and leaders have made various claims about it. Sadhvi Prachi has demanded excavation at the site, while Swami Yashveer Maharaj has claimed that a temple may have existed there earlier. However, there has so far been no independent or official confirmation of the claim that a temple existed at the site.
The well emerged when the debris was cleared after the mosque’s demolition. According to reports, the well is said to be about 20 metres deep and had a heavy slab placed over it. The administration has, for now, covered the well in view of safety concerns and deployed police personnel in the area. Officials are preparing to seek the help of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) experts to determine the age and historical significance of the well. For now, it would be premature to arrive at any historical conclusion regarding the well.
Swami Yashveer Maharaj claimed that an ancient temple may have existed at the place where the mosque stood. Demanding an inspection and excavation of the site, he said historical facts should be examined in such matters. However, the claim about a temple remains only a claim at this stage. Available reports do not cite any official archaeological finding proving that a temple previously existed there.
Sadhvi Prachi also reacted to the discovery of the well. Demanding excavation at the site, she said, “If bodies are found in the well, they are yours; if a Shivling is found, it is ours.” Her statement further escalated the controversy. Sadhvi Prachi also said that if any religious or historical remains emerge during excavation, they should be examined. However, the other claims made by her have not been independently verified.
On the other hand, Congress MP Imran Masood offered a different response regarding the well. According to him, the well was used for wuzu in the mosque. He appealed to people to avoid giving a communal colour to the discovery of the well or drawing conclusions without an investigation.
The well found after the mosque was removed in Saharanpur has now become the new centre of the dispute. One side is linking it to an old religious structure, while the other side is describing it as a well used in the mosque. In this situation, archaeological and administrative investigations will be important to establish the actual facts. Only after a scientific examination of the well’s structure, construction style, age and any possible remains found nearby will it be possible to determine its historical significance. For now, the claim that a temple existed there is not a proven fact and should be treated only as a claim until the investigation is complete.
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