Theft attempt at temple in Rajouri

Shyam Sood
Rajouri, December 9

Activists of the Bajrang Dal and the VHP today held a demonstration in Rajouri demanding action against those who attempted theft at a temple and put up some some signs on walls, hurting religious sentiments of the minority community.

A case under Sections 457, 380, 511 and 295-A has been registered at the Thanamandi police station and Yougal Manhas, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), claimed to have identified two teenagers involved in the crime. Thanamandi town is also the tehsil headquarters and is dominated by Muslims. According to locals, a Muslim youth is taking care of the temple in the town.

Protesters alleged there were some people who were attempting to disturb communal harmony.

In the last week of November, some miscreants had also set fire to the 400-year-old idol of Goddess ‘Pindi’ in a remote Gaibas village in Kalakot tehsil.

As no member of the minority community is looking after the temple at Thanamandi, a few Bajrang Dal and VHP activists from Rajouri visit the temple once a week.

On Sunday, when Navneet Gupta visited the temple, he found the locks of the temple broken. He noticed that an attempt had been made to steal the idols and the cash. However, everything was intact though there was some graffiti scribbled on the wall.

“As the temple remains abandoned, the exact date of crime can’t be specified. However, a case has been registered,” said the SSP.

He added Inspector Nazir Ahmed, SHO, had started an investigation under the supervision of Ifikar Choudhry, SDPO, Thanamandi.

“The involvement of two teenagers in the crime can’t be ruled out and teams have been deputed to apprehend them,” said the SSP.

“Even during the post-Babri Masjid conflict, Muslims at Thanamandi had protected the temple to maintain Hindu-Muslim brotherhood and unity. We strongly condemn this act and administration must take stern action against the culprit,” said Shakeel Ahmed Mir, municipal president.