Tension in Gabela village cools down

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 8

The tension prevailing in Gabela village in Jaunsar Bawar, Chakrata, has now subsided. The village witnessed tension on the issue of Dalits being denied permission to enter the local temple of Kukurshi Devta and perform rituals there.

The gram pradhan said the Mandir Samiti had no objection to Dalits having darshan of the local deities. Peace was brokered with the help of the local administration and a meeting was held between the members of the Mandir Samiti and members of the Dalit community hailing from 15 villages.

“We have no objection to the Dalits entering the Gabela temple and performing rituals,” Jitender Sharma, gram pradhan, said in a letter.

Dehradun District Magistrate Ravi Nath Raman said the matter was needlessly politicised at the behest of some people and politicians.

“The temple is open for all and there is no bar on any person belonging to a different caste or religion,” he said. Any efforts to disrupt the peace and sanctity will be sternly dealt with, he added.