A nearly 20-foot-deep well found beneath the debris of the demolished mosque at the Saharanpur Collectorate was inspected by an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) official on Monday, who said the structure could be 200 to 250 years old. Assistant Archaeological Officer Manoj Kumar Yadav reached Saharanpur from Lucknow to examine the well, which was found on Sunday while the debris at the site was being cleared.
The well has been built with Lakhauri bricks and lime-surki. Yadav said the construction resembles structures from the late-medieval period in the North and Central Ganga Valley. Its estimated age is based on the type of bricks, the construction pattern and the technique used.
However, the official said it was too early to draw conclusions about the history of the structure. Debris inside the well has made it difficult to examine it completely, and further investigation is required before its age and purpose can be established with certainty.
The discovery has led to claims that the well could be linked to the Shahjahan period or may have been part of a temple or another religious structure. Yadav, however, said there was no basis yet for making such a connection. Historical evidence and any material recovered from the well would have to be examined before its history could be established.
The finding has also become part of the political dispute over the demolition of the mosque. Uttar Pradesh Minister of State (Independent Charge) Narendra Kashyap said Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav should take note of the well while questioning the demolition. Kashyap claimed that the well existed before the mosque was built and had been filled before the construction of the mosque.
He also defended the demolition, saying it was carried out after following the due legal process.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak refused to comment on the historical claims, saying the matter was 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.
Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief and Uttar Pradesh minister Om Prakash Rajbhar also spoke about the discovery. He said the mosque had been demolished following a court order and that the inspection of the well was bringing new details about the site to light.
