Lucknow, September 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A fresh political controversy has erupted over the demolition of a mosque inside the Saharanpur Collectorate premises after an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team examined a nearly 20-foot-deep well discovered during debris removal at the site.
The well was found beneath the debris on Sunday and inspected by ASI officials on Monday to assess its age, construction and possible historical significance.
ASI Assistant Archaeological Officer Manoj Kumar Yadav, who travelled from Lucknow to examine the structure, said the materials and construction features observed at the site would be important in determining its historical character.
According to Yadav, the structure appears to bear architectural features associated with the late-medieval period in the North and Central Ganga Valley. The well has been constructed using Lakhauri bricks and lime-surki, materials commonly used in older structures.
Based on the bricks, construction pattern and techniques observed at the site, officials have estimated that the well could be around 200 to 250 years old.
However, Yadav cautioned that a definitive assessment would require further examination. Debris inside the structure has prevented complete verification, while archaeological evidence is still being studied to establish its exact history.
The discovery has also triggered speculation over whether the well could have any connection with the Shahjahan period or whether the site may previously have formed part of a temple or another religious structure. Yadav, however, said such conclusions should not be drawn without adequate archaeological evidence.
The political debate over the discovery has intensified as leaders from the Uttar Pradesh government reacted to the development.
Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak said the government was committed to maintaining law and order and declined to comment on the matter in detail since it is pending before the court.
“We will maintain law and order in Uttar Pradesh. Since the matter is before the court, it would not be appropriate to comment on it. The courts always keep options open. We are committed to maintaining law and order in Uttar Pradesh,” Pathak told reporters.
Minister Narendra Kashyap said Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav should take note of the well discovered at the location where the mosque had stood before questioning the demolition.
Speaking to IANS, Kashyap claimed that the well had been filled in before the mosque was constructed and alleged that the mosque had been built “forcibly”. He maintained that the demolition was carried out after following due legal procedure.
“Akhilesh Yadav should also look at the situation after the mosque was demolished. A well was found at the site where the mosque had been built. Wells have historically been one of the oldest ways of providing water to people. The well was filled in, and the mosque was built over it, and the mosque was constructed forcibly,” Kashyap said.
“Its demolition, carried out by following due legal procedure, should now not be questioned by Akhilesh Yadav,” he added.
Kashyap further argued that the discovery provided additional context to the dispute over the site and said the demolition should be viewed in the context of the legal proceedings that preceded it.
Minister O.P. Rajbhar also reacted to the discovery, saying the developments at the site were bringing further details to light.
“It has now been confirmed that the mosque was demolished following the court’s order. Now, when the well is being inspected, things are being revealed,” Rajbhar said.
The ASI examination is expected to help determine the nature and historical significance of the structure, while the broader dispute remains subject to ongoing legal proceedings.
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