20-Foot-Deep Well Found After Saharanpur Mosque Demolition, ASI Team To Examine Structure

A 20-foot-deep well has been discovered at the site of a mosque that was demolished inside the Saharanpur Collectorate complex in Uttar Pradesh, prompting authorities to call in the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for an inspection. Officials said the historical or other significance of the well cannot be determined until the ASI team examines it.

Well Discovered After Demolition

The mosque was demolished on Saturday after a court rejected an appeal filed by the Muslim side. Following the demolition, officials discovered the well at the site.

Saharanpur Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Sadar) Subodh Kumar said the demolition was carried out in accordance with the court’s order. He said the ASI would examine the newly discovered structure before authorities comment on its significance.

Police and administrative officials remain deployed at the location. The well has also been covered for the time being.

ASI To Assess The Well

Officials have called the ASI team to inspect the approximately 20-foot-deep well. The examination is expected to establish details about its structure and, if possible, its historical significance.

Authorities have not yet made any claim about the age or origin of the well.

Mosque Demolition Sparks Political Row

The demolition has triggered a political dispute, with Opposition leaders questioning the manner and timing of the action.

Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput alleged that the affected party was not given sufficient time to pursue further legal remedies. He also questioned the demolition of what he described as a century-old structure.

Rajput accused the BJP-led government and administration of using the action to create communal tension and political polarisation.

BJP Ally Defends Action

JD-U National General Secretary Shyam Rajak took a different position, saying that religious identity cannot override legal requirements.

He said that if a mosque, temple or church is constructed in violation of rules, authorities are required to act according to the Constitution and the law. According to Rajak, any demolition carried out lawfully should therefore be accepted.

Jamiat Chief Raises Concern Over Demolitions

The controversy has also drawn criticism from Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind National President Arshad Madani.

A day before the latest development, Madani said the use of bulldozers against properties described as illegal was increasingly being viewed as an instrument of “revenge, prejudice, and hatred” rather than simply a measure of justice.

For now, the focus at the Saharanpur site has shifted to the newly discovered well, with the ASI’s inspection expected to provide more clarity about the structure.