Saharanpur Collectorate Mosque Site Yields 250-Year-Old Well, Igniting Fresh Political Row

A fresh political controversy has erupted over the discovery of a 20-foot-deep well, estimated to be 200 to 250 years old, beneath the debris of a demolished mosque inside the Saharanpur Collectorate premises in Uttar Pradesh.

An Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team carried out an inspection at the site on Monday to determine the age, character, and historical significance of the structure, which surfaced during debris clearance on Sunday.

Manoj Kumar Yadav, Assistant Archaeological Officer with the ASI who arrived from Lucknow, stated that the well's construction features utilising Lakhauri bricks and lime-surki resemble architectural techniques typical of the late-medieval period in the North and Central Ganga Valley.

ASI Cautions Against Hasty Historical Claims

Yadav noted that while preliminary estimates suggest the structure is roughly two to two-and-a-half centuries old, definitive conclusions require further examination. Debris inside the well has hindered complete verification, and clear historical evidence remains under investigation.

Addressing speculation surrounding potential links to the Shahjahan period or an earlier religious site, Yadav cautioned against making definitive claims without adequate archaeological evidence.

UP Ministers Point to Discovery as Opposition Questions Demolition

The discovery has triggered sharp political reactions across the state. Minister Narendra Kashyap urged Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav to consider the discovery before questioning the court-ordered demolition, arguing that the well indicates a structure was forcibly built over an existing water source.

Minister O.P. Rajbhar stated that ongoing inspections are revealing further details following the legal demolition. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak emphasised that law and order would be strictly maintained, declining further comment as the matter remains sub judice.