Four Hindu Temples Restored In Muslim-Majority Areas Of Uttar Pradesh Within A Week; Latest in Aligarh—Here's All About It

In a week's time, four temples, all in Muslim-majority areas, have been discovered in Uttar Pradesh and regular pujas have restarted in them after decades of pause.

The latest revelation was in Aligarh, where Hindu groups found an abandoned temple. The police announced on Thursday (19 December) that they will monitor the temple and initiate an investigation into the purportedly missing idols.

Representatives from groups such as Bajrang Dal and Karni Sena claimed that there was an effort to "conceal the temple" from the public's view, Indian Express reported.

On Wednesday evening, the temple was unlocked and tidied up under the supervision of the police by members of the Hindu group and local BJP leaders. Yogi Kaushal Nath, the Mahant of Achal Tal, arrived at the temple and conducted a puja on Thursday morning.

However, many idols are missing from the temple and those left over were found to be damaged. Former Aligarh Mayor, BJP’s Shakuntala Bharti, raised concerns over the state of the temple.

"I have written to the Chief Minister expressing that Hindu sentiments were hurt after discovering the temple in disrepair, with encroachments on its land. We want a proper survey to remove encroachments and restore regular puja," Bharti said.

Gyanendra Singh Chauhan, the state secretary for All India Karni Sena, revealed that the temple was discovered during an initiative by his group to locate deserted worship sites. He announced their successful identification of the temple on Wednesday.

Pankaj Mishra, in-charge of Banna Devi police station in Aligarh, has stated that the temple will henceforth be under police observation. He further assured that an investigation would be initiated into the case of the missing idols.

"Puja will now be performed at the temple on a daily basis– in the morning and evening," said the Mahant. This comes after two temples in Sambhal and one in Varanasi have been similarly unlocked and prayers resumed there.

On 14 December, a Shiv-Hanuman temple was discovered in Sambhal's Khaggu Sarai area, followed by the unlocking of a second temple on 17 December in the Hayat Nagar area.

On the same day, a Hindu organisation named Sanatan Rakshak Dal discovered a temple in the Madanpura area which was closed for 40 years. It is claimed to be 250 years old.