Temple land encroached upon in Srinagar: Pandits

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 21

At a time when a return plan for the Pandits is being discussed, the minority community has claimed encroachment upon temple land in Rainawari locality in Srinagar. It alleged that the police and administration were not taking any action.

The Rainawari KP Action Committee has urged Governor Satya Pal Malik to direct officials to remove encroachers from the Shiv Temple at Rainawari, Srinagar. Notably, a majority of the Hindu families had left the place in 1990.

“The temple land and property has been encroached upon by the local land mafia. This situation emerged when the High Court directed the authorities to take suo motu cognisance of property sale of Pandits,” said a statement issued by the committee.

Committee president BL Jalali said, “All socio-political and religious organisations are requested to join hands to defeat the forces that are indulging in erasing religious and cultural heritage of the Hindus in Kashmir.”

Jalali said the incident came after encroachment at Shri Veetal Bhairav Temple at Motiyar, Rainawari. The temple was restored after a legal battle. The committee has decided to protest outside the Relief Commissioner (M) office here to draw the attention of the government.