Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 26: Kashmiri Pandits owing allegiance to various socio and religious bodies held a massive protest demonstration near Press Club here, today against the encroachment of land and property of two ancient temples in Rainawari area of Srinagar Kashmir by land mafia.
The demonstration was organised by KP Action Committee Rainawari led by B L Jalali and the representatives of various KP bodies participated in it.
The protestors with playcards and banners in their hands were raising the slogans against the land mafia and failure of Government to protect the age old Hindu shrines and temples in the Valley which became safe target of anti social elements and land mafia after the ethnic cleansing of minority Pandits from the Valley through the hands of terrorists and separatists on the instigation of Pakistan.
The protestors warned to intensify the agitation in case the land of ancient temples and Dharamshala is not restored immediately and the culprits responsible for the same are put behind the bars and dealt under the law of the land.
The protestors alleged that it has become a free for all affair in Valley during last three decades of terrorism and anti social elements as well as mafia groups in connivance with some people in administration have grabbed the land of Hindu shrines, temples and cremation grounds in Valley under the very nose of administration which has been watching the same as a mute spectator.
They alleged the genocide imposed on the community in 1990 is continuing unabated in one form or another.
“We are pained to inform again to the State Administration that Shiv Ji Temple located at Kara PuraKhushki, Mian Shah Sahib, Rainawari, Srinagar, Kashmir has been vandalised and desecrated besides its land that comprises 12 Marlas has been reduced to 4 marlas. Not only that the Temple property (DHARAMSHALA) that includes shops located nearly 50 metres away from the main temple has been demolished, usurped and encroached by the local people.
They said another temple known as Jogeshwar Temple, popularly known as ‘Lokut Mandir’ dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Ghat Jogi Lankar, Rainawari is facing a grave threat from the local people who have encroached the shops that are located in the Temple building and they are occupying them illegally without paying any rent besides the other shops occupied by the local tenants are being misused by them.
The Sanctum Sanctorum of the temple has been desecrated by improper use by these illegal occupants, they added.
B.L. Jalali, president, of the Committee has appealed the Governor to kindly initiate an apt action and enquiry to restore & reconstruct the properties of the two temples to the community.
The demonstration was attend by Jogishwari Temple Trust Shiv ji Welfare Committee of Mian Shah Sahib & Kraliyar, Shir Vaital Bhairav, Gokul Mandir, Naidyar, All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference, Prem Nath Bath Memorial Trust, Temples & Shrines Management Board, Zeashta Devi Prabandhak Committee, Pannun Kashmir, Shri Ganesh Mandir Samiti, Ganpatyar Srinagar,Shri Alakh Sahiba Trust, Anantnag Prabandhak Committee, Pokhribal Management besides others.
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