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| As state Government sleeps, miscreants decamp with Shiv Lingam from Budgam temple | | KTCC shots letters to PM, HM | | Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, July 1: The tall claims of state Government to protect the temples in Kashmir valley have once again fallen flat as a Shiv Lingam has been stolen from a temple in Central Kashmir's Budgam district.
The robbery took place on June 2 but due to the reluctance shown by the Jammu and Kashmir Police the issue got highlighted only after the First Information Report (FIR) was lodged that too after many days. However, the police officials have entered the FIR on back date in order to give an impression that there was no delay on their part.
Sources told Early Times that some miscreants barged the door of Ragnya Mandir at Badipora-Chadoora in Budgam district in the late hours on June 2. The miscreants decamped with the Shiv Lingam that was present there. Although one month has passed since then there is no trace of the Shiv Lingam and no arrests have been made so far.
"The Sant of the temple Mahant Swami Bunty Ji Maharaj had gone to his Guru's ashram and as such there was nobody to guard the temple. Taking advantage of this the miscreants decamped with the Shiv Lingam with the same yet to be traced even after one month. As the incident took place in darkness the miscreants could not be identified by the locals," said sources.
Sources said that the incident took place after 9 PM and it came to be known once the door was found broken by the locals and the management committee of the temple. Both the locals and management committee members tried their best to look for the clues but they were unable to find the same.
"The nearest police station at Chadoora was immediately contacted so that an FIR is lodged. However, the officials of the police station showed reluctance in lodging the FIR. It was after repeated requests that the police officials conceded the demand and registered the FIR but not before delay of many days," said sources.
The Ragnya Mandir at Badipora assumes significance as it is considered to be a replica of the Ragnya Mandir of Kheer Bhawani at Tulmulla in Ganderbal district. There are many springs at this Mandir and is located over a hillock in the Badipora locality of Chadoora area in Central Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Kashmir Temple Caring Committee (KTCC) has condemned the incident and demanded immediate arrest of the miscreants who stole the Shiv Lingam. The Committee said that despite repeated requests the state Government has failed to provide security to the temples of Kashmir valley.
"The robbery at the Badipora temple is a blot on the face of state Government since it claims that it provides security at the temples in Kashmir. Ever since Omar Abdullah took over as Chief Minister we have made numerous requests to him for providing proper security to the temples, but nothing of that sort happened," said Bharat Raina, Chairman KTCC.
Raina asked Omar to pull up his socks or otherwise face the consequences in the Assembly elections slated to be held later this year. He said that 176 temples in Kashmir are in shambles with majority of the temples turning as den for anti-social activities especially drug addiction. He said some of these temples are historical and monumental as well.
The KTCC has shot letters to Prime Minister, Narinder Modi and Home Minister, Rajnath Singh asking them to intervene and ensure security of temples in Kashmir. |
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