'Aarti' at Hanuman, Shiv temple after 46 yrs in Sambhal

Aaarti was performed on Sunday morning at a Lord Shiva and Hanuman mandir in Sambhal, which was closed for 46 years; the temple reopened following an administrative decision taken by the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police.

- Biswajeet Banerjee

Security forces were deployed overnight in the area to ensure a peaceful reopening and early morning prayers.

The temple closure dates back to the communal riots of 1978. While conducting an anti-power theft drive on Saturday, DM Manish Bansal and SP Chakresh Mishra discovered the locked temple situated in a predominantly Muslim locality. Upon inquiry, they learned about its closure since the riots. The officials ordered the removal of encroachments around the temple and reopened its gates.