Uttar Pradesh government officials began excavation work at two sites in Firozabad on January 8, 2025, following claims of the discovery of “ancient temples.” The excavations are being carried out under police supervision after appeals from Hindutva groups, with the aim of investigating the nature of the structures.
One of the sites, located near the Mohammadi Masjid in the Kashmiri Gate area under Rasulpur Police Station, was discovered two days ago. Local police reached out to Muslim representatives in the area after Hindutva organizations pressed for action on the matter.
Rasulpur Station Officer Anuj Kumar Singh confirmed that both communities had been consulted before the excavation work began, ensuring the process took place peacefully. “Following appeals from Hindu organisations, both communities were consulted, and work began peacefully,” he stated.
Mohan Bajrangi, the district chief of Bajrang Dal, who was present at the site, suggested that the discovered structure appeared to be a Shiv temple. He added that more information about idols and artefacts would be available once the excavation was completed.
Akeel Ahmed, a local resident, shared that the area was once farmland owned by Hindu families, but that several of these families had left around 60 years ago, possibly due to a growing Muslim population.
A second “temple” was found in the Chishti Nagar’s 60-foot Road area under Ramgarh Police Station on the evening of January 6. Rajeev Sharma, the president of Vishva Hindu Parishad’s Firozabad unit, and his team cleared the site in the presence of both police and local Muslims. Ramgarh SHO Sanjeev Dubey explained that the area had been predominantly Hindu 50 years ago, but now the demographic had shifted to a Muslim-majority.
“The excavation work is ongoing, and there is communal harmony in the area,” Dubey assured.
