Thousands visit shrine of Baba Chamliyal near IB

Nearly 30,000 devotees from Jammu and Kashmir and outside thronged the annual mela at the shrine of Baba Chamliyal near the International Border in Samba district on Thursday, officials said.

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The shrine of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas, popularly known as Baba Chamliyal, was considered a symbol of Indo-Pakistan bonhomie in the past but the shrine did not host any delegation from Pakistan since June 2018 after four BSF personnel, including an assistant commandant, were killed in an unprovoked cross-border firing.

In accordance with the past practice, Commandant of 101 battalion of the BSF Alkesh Kumar Sinha was the first to offer a ‘chadar’ at the grave of the saint in a pre-dawn function to mark the commencement of the annual mela.

“This is a 322-year-old shrine and enjoys a lot of respect among the devotees. I reached the shrine on Wednesday night to take part in the traditional prayers in the early hours of the day,” the officer told reporters at the shrine.

“The district administration, shrine committee and the BSF are working together for the success of the mela,” the officer said, adding that security has been beefed up along the border in view of the festival.

Shrine committee head Charan Das expressed happiness over the conclusion of the annual mela and thanked local volunteers for their service over the past fortnight to meet the requirements of the visiting devotees.