Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Jan 11: An idol of goddess, believed to be nearly 1000- years- old and discovered few days ago in the Kallar area of Rajouri along the Rajouri-Jammu National Highway, went missing under suspicious circumstances on Sunday, triggering tension and protest in the area.
According to details, the idol was unearthed a few days ago on private land belonging to a former Army soldier, while highway digging work. The landowner belonging to different faith, had reportedly expressed no objection to the idol being placed at a suitable location for worship or even to the construction of a temple. Following the discovery, local residents placed the idol at a nearby spot and began worshipping it.
However, when people reached the site on Sunday morning, they were shocked to find that the idol had gone missing. The incident immediately led to unrest, with members of the Hindu community gathering at the spot. Soon after, activists of various Hindu organisations from Rajouri town also reached Kallar and expressed strong resentment over the incident. It was followed by protest on the road.
The protesters alleged that the disappearance of the idol could be the handiwork of miscreants attempting to disturb communal harmony in the area. They appealed to the police and district administration to act swiftly and recover the idol at the earliest, claiming that failure could worsen the situation.
Police teams reached the spot soon after the incident was reported and initiated an investigation into the matter. Security has been strengthened in the area to prevent any untoward incident.
Later, activists of Hindu organisations, under the banner of Bajrang Dal, staged a protest on the Rajouri-Jammu highway, expressing anger over what they termed as administrative negligence. They alleged that despite the idol being found four days ago, no senior administrative or revenue official visited the site or took cognisance of the matter.
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