A Hindu temple has been found in a Muslim dominated area in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. This temple was closed for the last four decades. Many fragmented statues of Shivalinga have also been found in this temple. A wall was also built to prevent anyone from going inside. The administration has now started the renovation of the temple by breaking the wall. The temple was closed after severe riots in 1980. Then the priest here was murdered and thrown into the fire.
Great grandfather built it, grandson got the encroachment removed
This temple is found in Jhabbu ka Nala area in Moradabad. Majority of the population here is of Muslims. The priest’s great grandson Sevaram had complained to the DM regarding this temple. He had told in the complaint that the temple was built by his great grandfather Bhimsen and after that his own family used to worship in it. He had said that during the riots of 1980, this temple was closed and a wall was built at the entrance and now people do not go here. He also demonstrated with the local people demanding opening of the temple.
Broken statues, made parking
After this, on Monday (December 30, 2024), the team of Moradabad Municipal Corporation and administration reached here with full force. he did the temple the wall Broke. After this the soil collected here was removed. The form of the temple was visible after this. Here a statue of Bajrang Bali was found on the wall. There is also a Shivalinga from here which had the idol of Nandi. The statues of Maa Durga and Kali were broken. The statues that were built on the wall were also broken. A three feet concrete floor was made in the temple. Now there was parking on the land here.
The administration has got the temple excavated and the floor broken. A very big temple has emerged from inside. The administration is now renovating the temple. The work here will be completed soon and the puja will be started. Local Hindus are happy to get their temple back but it has also brought back bitter memories. Sevaram, who had complained about the construction of the temple, cried after getting it back and seeing its bad condition. He told that his great grandfather Bhimsen had given land for the construction of this temple.
Kinnar had taken up the responsibility of worship.
At that time, Hindu population used to settle in this Jhabbu Nala area. Sevaram told that his grandfather Gangasaran Used to worship here. In 1980, when a massive riot broke out in Moradabad after Eid, this area became empty of Hindus. Sevaram alleged that the rioters killed his grandfather Gangasaran and threw his body in the fire. Due to this, even his body was not found. With this the temple was closed and a wall was built here. Gradually all the Hindus left the area. Since then this temple was closed.
Some time ago a Hindu eunuch had come and settled here. their name mohini kinnar Is. Mohini Kinnar told that she could not bear to see this condition of the temple and she got the outer part painted. For this also police help had to be taken. Mohini Kinnar told that she used to light the wick of a lamp here daily and also used to get the wall decoration of the temple done on Diwali. Now he and Sevaram’s family are happy to get their temple back.
83 people died in the 1980 riots
This temple was closed after the 1980 riots. 83 people were killed in that. This riot took place on 13 August 1980. The investigation report regarding this was made public by the Yogi government in 2023. Earlier, reports of the riots were kept suppressed because it would have identified the real responsible people. Congress and Muslim League were the two big players in Moradabad. The Jamaat of the Muslim League was led by Shamim Ahmed and Hamid Hussain alias Ajji and their supporters, who wanted to re-establish the Muslim League in Uttar Pradesh.
At the same time, Congress was working under the leadership of Hafiz Mohammad Siddiqui. Written statements of 6 people from the Hindu side are recorded in this report, in which it is clearly written that this violence was not sudden but pre-planned. The statement of the then district president of BJP in Moradabad Hariom Sharma is also recorded in this report, who It was said that this violence was just a part of a bigger conspiracy. The Muslim side was funded for this violence by foreign countries and Islamic organizations like Muslim League, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hinsa and Tablighi-e-Islam.
Several violent incidents had been occurring for three months prior to this riot. The leaders of Muslim League and Congress took advantage of the deepening tension on 13 August 1980, the day of Eid. He carried out the pigs incident through his supporters and pushed the entire Moradabad into the grip of riots. Recalling that day, BJP leader Hariom Sharma said in the statement that on the occasion of Eid, a crowd of Muslims set fire to the camps set up near the Eidgah.
In this, those two camps which were run by Muslim League were left out. During that time, Muslim League leaders were near their camps, whereas they had to attend Namaz. It is clear from this that he was already aware of the riots and the entire conspiracy was hatched by him. However, no evidence was found that pigs had entered the Eidgah. Not only this, another rumor was spread that the police had killed hundreds of Muslims inside the Eidgah.
