A debris-filled well unearthed at the Saharanpur Collectorate premises has prompted a historical assessment, with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Uttar Pradesh state Archaeology department officials inspecting the structure on Monday to determine its age, construction and possible historical significance, two days after a mosque at the site was demolished following a court order.
The inspection was conducted under heavy police security, with the area surrounding the structure barricaded to restrict access. The inspection came two days after the demolition of a mosque located inside the Saharanpur Collectorate premises in the early hours of Saturday. The demolition followed a court order upholding its removal.
On September 4, the district Judge’s court dismissed an appeal filed by the mosque committee and upheld an earlier order issued by the city magistrate. The city magistrate’s court had ordered the demolition on July 17, along with compensation of approximately ₹ 6.41 crore, citing alleged encroachment and misuse of government land. Notably, the management committee of the demolished mosque submitted an electricity bill dated January 1, 1911, before the court, arguing that the document showed the mosque was more than a century old, was registered with the Sunni Waqf Board and predated the establishment of the present Collectorate complex.
Authorities said the demolition was carried out in compliance with the court’s directions and prescribed legal procedures.
