Excelsior Correspondent:
BILLAWAR, June 21: Twelve people including, SDPO Billawar and six Baridars were injured in a clash between police and Baridaras here today when the former were trying to take the offerings from Sukhrala Mata temple here which was resisted by Baridars and their family members.
According to reports soon after the police took up the boxes containing the offerings from the holy Sukhrala Mata Shrine today, the Baridars and their families resisted the action and lodged a strong protest against the police. This resulted into a clash between police and baridars and six police men and six Baridars were reportedly injured.
One Baridar Ved Parkash who was seriously injured in the clash has been shifted to GMC Jammu for treatment while other five were admitted in SDH Billawar for treatment. Among the six cops who were injured in the clash was the local SDPO, police said.
The Baridars were protesting against the Government action saying that they be given their due share from the offerings as per the tradition. They said that 70 percent of the offerings were given to Baridars and 30 percent was utilized for the development of the area. But the Shrine Board headed By Divisional Commissioner, Jammu has deprived them of their right which is an injustice with them, they alleged.
The Baridars said that their entire families were dependent on the Shrine for hundreds of years together and it has been a tradition that 70 percent of the income of the shrine goes to them and 30 percent of the same is utilized for creation of facilities for pilgrims.
But after taking over the control by Shrine Board last year the Baridars are being deprived of their rights. They said that after the constitution of Board the Government in principle has agreed to keep 25 percent placement for Baridars and 25 percent share to them from offerings but this was not kept later.
While questioning the constitution of the Board they said that when there is no shrine Board for Bawe Wali Mata temple, Raghunath Temple Jammu, Cheechi Mata Temple Samba why the Shrine Board was created for Sukhrala Mata temple to play with the lives of 40 Baridars of the shrine and their families.
Confirming that the clash has taken place, SSP Kathua, Mohan Lal said that the Baridars were creating hurdles in the functioning of the Shrine Board. He said a Shrine Board for Sukhrala Mata and Bala Sundri Shrines was constituted under a due process of law last year and since then the Board was not allowed to function properly by some people.
He said there were certain issues with Baridars which included donations also. The Baridars demanding share were neither allowing the lifting of donation boxes for last one year which were filled fully nor they were allowing the Board to function.
Mohal Lal said today Deputy Commissioner, Kathua deputed ACR and police also accompanied him to lift the donation boxes and to assist the Board in running the affairs of the shrine but some people obstructed the police and attacked it. A scuffle took place in which 10 policemen including SDPO, Billawar, SHO Billawar and one ASI were injured. One Baridar was also injured and he was shifted to GMC Jammu for treatment.
He said the deployment has been made at the shrine and the Board has taken over the control of the Shrine by establishing their office at the Shrine.
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