Kandaghat temple row: Demarcation of land begins

Tribune News Service

Advertisement

Solan, April 29

The Revenue Department staff today initiated demarcation of the land where Shri Ramlok Temple is being constructed at Rurra village in the Kandaghat area.

Sanjit Sharma, tehsildar, Kandaghat, confirmed that demarcation was conducted after a request by the Forest Department. He said they were also trying to ascertain the extent of encroachment done on the government land and it also included the 1.2 bighas encroached by the temple last year.

Various government departments had preferred to remain mute spectators in the case and the encroachment was being carried out by the temple management for the last one year.

Action has been initiated into the case after local villagers raised the matter before the Chief Minister.

The officials of the Forest Department have also woken up to the issue after it came to light that four trees were axed while paving the way for a pathway leading to the temple.

Ashok Chauhan, DFO, confirmed that since four small trees had been damaged, they had to ascertain whether it was a forest land or a shamlat before initiating action against the offender.

Meanwhile, sources said Amardev, a controversial priest, had been shifted to the IGMC, Shimla, and the police was yet to initiate action against him.

Doctors at the Regional Hospital confirmed that Amardev, who complained of weakness following head and other injuries, had been referred to the IGMC today for neurology opinion.

They also confirmed that Shanti Devi, who had received 22 stitches in a sword attack, was stable and undergoing treatment at the hospital.