Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 2: Police on Saturday registered a case after an ancient temple was allegedly desecrated in Anantnag district of Kashmir Valley, officials said.
Senior officials of the police and civil administration visited the Bargheshekha Bhagwati Mata Temple in the Mattan area of the South Kashmir district for an on the spot inquiry, they said.
Police have registered a case and the matter is being investigated, the officials said.
Anantnag Deputy Commissioner, Piyush Singla said the culprits will be punished and no one will be allowed to harm social and communal harmony.
“Such immoral and illegal acts will not be tolerated and the culprits will be penalised as per relevant provisions of the law. Nobody will be allowed to harm or disrupt the social and communal harmony in society,” he said.
Singla said the police has registered an FIR and investigation is underway.
National Conference (NC) vice president, Omar Abdullah condemned the incident and urged police to prosecute the culprits.
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“Unacceptable. I strongly condemn this vandalism and urge the administration, especially J&K Police to identify the culprits so they can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he tweeted.
PDP leader, Naeem Akhtar also condemned the incident.
“Condemn strongly! the persons responsible should be punished and the society helped to ensure such incidents don’t recur,” Akhtar said in a tweet. Meanwhile BJP general secretary, Sunil Sharma who is also Prabahri of Kashmir visited the holy shrine along with corporator Mattan, Rakesh Kaul to ascertain the situation. They while strongly condemning the act demanded immediate arrest of culprits and protection of religious places in Valley.
Meanwhile a strong protest was held at Jagti by displaced pundits led by M K Yogi. The protestors while condemning the act demanded security of all religious places in the valley. They said it is unfortunate that the authorities have failed to protect this holy and one of the important ancient shrines of Kashmir.
BJP senior leader Ashwnai Kumar Chrungoo while expressing his serious concern has urged the authorities to take appropriate action in bringing the culprits to book. Chrungoo in a letter to DG Police expressed his shock over the vandalization of historic shrine and hoped that the authorities will initiate the probe into gory incident and bring the culprits to justice.
Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) chief Kundan Kashmiri and its other leaders, M K Raina , Tej Pandita and Dr Saraf have also strongly condemned the vandalization of holy temple saying this has hurt the sentiments of the entire community across the globe. They demanded action against the culprits and protection to all Hindu religious places in Valley.
Kashmiri Hindu Conference (KHC) chief, M L Thusoo and its convener P L Koul Budgami and president Magam Bangil Sabha Raj Nath Raina have also condemned the sacrilegious act and demanded protection of Hindu religious places in valley.
Dr Ramesh Bhat a social activist and senior member of Navdal Committee has also strongly condemned this dastardly act and demanded immediate arrest of culprits besides protection of all Hindu shrines and temples in Valley.
Anil Kumar Bhan, president Migrant Welfare Committee Mattan also strongly condemned the ghastly attack on a sacred shrine Hindu at Mattan and said it is an eye opener for the Government. He said under the prevailing situation the KPs living in Valley also feel insecure.
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