Temples desecrated and damaged in Kashmir
from 1990 - Dec.19921. DASHNAMI AKHARA, SRINAGAR
On the opposite side of shopping complex of Aukaf
Building, housing library, R. Room and an office of Jamait-Islami lies
the age old Akhara in Budshah Chowk, Srinagar. The temple in the Akhara
is surrounded by three storied shopping-cum-hotel-cum-office complex on
three sides. There is a beautiful park in the premises, dharamshallas for Sadhus, residence of the Mahant etc. The Akhara has provided a vast area
to Suraj Transport company for Godowns and parking space on rent. The Akhara
has been chronic eyesore to the Jamait-Islami. lt was attacked countless
times but in early 1990 mobs forced entry into the premises causing a devastating
fire, and loss of property in crores in godowns and a portion of Mahant's
residence. C.R.P.F suffered heavy injuries protecting the temple.
2. GANPATYAR TEMPLE, SRINAGAR
Ganpatyar has been attracting mob attacks right
from 1953. Alaska episode, Satanic Verses, Zia's death, fall of East Pakistan,
defeat of Pakistan in cricket etc. have been the causes. From the onset
of insurgency it was stoned, attacked by bomb blasts and rockets at various
occasions but CRPF in one of its Dharamshallas saved the shrine at great
cost.
3. RAGHUNATH MANDIR, SRINAGAR
The school caught fire when the Dhramshalla of
the temple was set on fire in early 1990 while worshipping in the Temple
was forbidden. However the worshipers refused to stop worshipping, the
premises were set on fire and arsoned.
4. SHIV TEMPLE, JAWAHAR NAGAR, SRINAGAR
The property in the Dharamshalla was brought
out along with some Puja material and idols from the Temple; some removed
and some consigned to flames.
5. HANUMAN MANDIR, SRINAGAR
Desecrated long before the start of insurgency
which necessitated round the clock CRPF guard. The massive Panchamukhi
Hunuman Ji idol suffered some damage in early 1990.
6. SHIV TEMPLE, BARBAR SHAH, SRINAGAR
It was desecrated a number of times. What is
desecrated is not safe. Desecration itself is a henious sacrilege.
7. JAI DEVI TEMPLE, BIJBEHARA
Desecrated idols stoned, compound wall broken
in 1986.
8. VIJESHWAR TEMPLE, BIJBEHARA
Night soil was thrown on 10 Shiv Lings inside
the Temple in 1986, compound wall broken.
9. SHIV MANDIR, BIJBEHARA
Ancient idols valued over Rs. 10 Lakhs in the
shrine were looted in 1986.
10. RAGHUNATH MANDIR, ANANTNAG
According to Mahant Sukhram and other sources
mostly Muslims, it suffered 9 bomb attacks, 7 blasts. Refer FIR No. 307/427
dated 9-1-91 (Police station, Anantnag).
11. GAUTAM NAGH TEMPLE, ANANTNAG
The double storey Temple 60x40 was burnt to ashes
in presence of Homeguards personnel, property loss was estimated to the
tune of Rs. 28 Lakhs leaving aside priceless ancient manuscripts in Sanskrit
and Shardha. The orchard on 145 canals of land with thirty thousand fruit
trees was mercilessly attacked by fanatical mobs leaving hardly three thousand
trees to survive.
12. THREE TEMPLES OF LUKHBHAVAN, LARKIPURA,
ANANTNAG
Damaged in 1986. Subsequently repaired. Dharamshalla
burnt, temple suffered some damage again in 1992.
13. WANPOH MANDIR, ANANTNAG
Damaged in 1986. Subsequently repaired. The idols
have been desecrated publicly in respect of this shrine on 21-2-1992 according
to sources.
14. SHAILPUTRI TEMPLE, BARAMULLA
Damaged in 1990.
15. DAYALGAM MANDIR, ANANTNAG
It was stoned heavily but somehow not razed to
the ground.
16. BHARAVNATH MANDIR, BARAMULLA
Damaged in 1990.
17. BHARAVNATH MANDIR, SOPORE
Desecrated and damaged.
18. RUPABHAVANI MANDIR, VASAKURA
Idols, Ashram utensils removed. Night soil thrown
on the steps in early 1990 a dozen times. Protesting Hindus of the vicinity
mercilessly beaten.
19. KHIRBHAVANI MANDIR, GANDERBAL
According to B.G.Verghese ''Its origin goes to
epic times. The security forces in its precincts attracted rocket attacks
on April 4,1991, which chipped some concrete off the outer gate. It again
came under attack on May 4. Bullet marks can be seen on the other structures".
20. SHIV TEMPLE, GANDERBAL
Desecrated and damaged.
21. MATTAN TEMPLE, ANANTNAG
A mob entered the premises, after Nimaz claiming
it to be a muslim shrine.
State Minister for home Sh. M. M. Jacob told the
Lok Sabha on 12-3-1993 that 38 places of worship were damaged in J&K
State, 13 in 1989, 9 in 1990 and 16 in 1991.
Report of Sh. Sukh Ram Dass, Deputy Mahant,
Gautamnag Ashram
One Sh. Sukh Ram Dass, Deputy Mahant, Gautamnag
Ashram is also incharge of the Raghunath mandir of Anantnag, Kashmir. He
was kidnapped by Muslim insurgents on 6-3-1991, mercilessly beaten during
his protracted interrogation. A date was fixed for executing him. He, however,
managed his miraculous escape.
Goutamnag is an aeons-old shrine. Swami Sarawanand
meditated here for sixty long years during Maharaja Partap Singh's and
Hari Singh's rule. He had made a big pond called ''Lotus Lake''. The lotus
which grew here were of course more fascinating and awe-inspiring than
those in the famed Dal Lake and Manasbal lake of Kashmir.
The shrine has been famous for its Gow-shallas
for centuries for food and fruits lavishly served to pilgrims, Saints and
Sadhus from all over the country, particularly during Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. These food stuffs would, invariably, go to the needy Muslim
neighbours,
orphans and widows of all communities free of cost in absence of Ashram
guests.
On Feb.20 1986 two storeyed temple in the Ashram
was razed to the ground by unruly Muslim mobs. The then Governor of J &
K subsequently had a temple built on the debris of the burnt temples. The
Deputy Mahant gives the dates of fire attacks during insurgency (from 1990)
as under:
12-12-90,18-12-90,6-1-91,7-1-91,18-1-91,19-1-91,27-1-91,2-2-91,19-2-91,28-2-91
and 6-3- 1991.
BOMB BLASTS
On 8-6-91 at 8.30 (which were repeated 9
times).
Grenade attacks on temples: 21 -6-91.
Petrol Bomb attacks: 12,13 and 23-11-1993
etc.
Deputy Mahant approached the authorities to shift
ten starving cows to Jammu or elsewhere. Nobody listened to his request.
''I then sought help from volantary organisations. They readily managed
shifting of cows to Jammu on their own expenses and at greatest risk to
their voluntary workers including truck drivers'', says SukhRam. ''The
Governor of J&K State promised me on 24-6-91 to have back side wall
of the Ashram buildings repaired besides some essential construction in
the premises done but the assurance turned out a hoax'' adds the Deputy Mahant.
''On 15th September 1990, I submitted representation
to the concerned police station and also to the D.I.G. Police, concerned,
the Governor and others for raising the strength of CRPF personnel guarding
the Ashram from 8 to l6. To my great surprise ond shock entire CRPF was
shifted on 30-10-1990 and replaced by local armed police personnel who
looked with contempt to wards me and shrine."
Sukh Ram says he made fanatic appeals to President
of India, Home Minister, Governor of J&K State and lot of others but
nobody could be moved. The result was that a double storey house, cow-shed,
shali store house, other minor constructions were reduced to ashes on 19-10-91
at dead of night under the nose of local guards who did not move even their
little finger and even whisper while the carnoge was on.
Sukh Ram says he met the Hon'ble Home Minister
personally and several other congress leaders and apprised them of the
continued desecration of the Temple & Shrines in Kashmir but he was
unable to evoke any response.
|