Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 22: Strongly condemning the yesterday’s police lathicharge on Baridars and Pujaris at Sukhrala Mata Temple in Billawar VHP today demanded immediate dissolution of the Sukhrala Mata Shrine Board and restoration of old status of the shrine.
‘The Government should refrain from interfering in religious affairs of Hindus by way of formation of boards for the religious shrines’’, VHP State president Leela Karan Sharma told reporters here today.
He said the yesterday’s police action at Sukhrala Mata shrine is condemnable and no Hindu organization will tolerate the entry of police in the holy shrine with arms and beating of Pujaris, baridars and other people who resisted the police action.
He said police resorted to lathicharge on Baridars, Pujaris and people and entered into the holy temple with arms which is not tolerable.
Mr Sharma said that Police is for protection of people and not for their harassment. He demanded that the traditional way of pooja be maintained at Sukhrala Mata temple, Bala Sundri and Baba Jalveer historical Shrines and shrine boards for these shrines should be dissolved immediately.
He said the Government was duty bound to provide facilities to baridars, Pujaris managers of these shrines and asked the Government to make clear that on what basis police entered into the holy shrine and created a law and order problem there.
He said six baridars and pujaris were injured in police action at holy shrine yesterday and they be given compensation besides the action be taken against the officers responsible for police action.
Yugvir Gupta secretary of BD for Poonch –Rajouri districts was also present in the press conference.
Meanwhile Bajrang Dal (BD) today staged a demonstration at Rehari Shakti Ashram against yesterday’s police action at Sukhrala Mata temple and torched the effigies of the administration.
The BD warned that if the Board was not immediately disbanded it will launch State –wide agitation. The demonstration was led by Rakesh Sharma, co-convener Bajrang Dal while Rohit Anand, Kartik Sudan and Govind were among other leaders of the organization who participated in the protest.
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