Shivala Mandir intact: CM

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Jun 29: Amid rumours of the rioters having torched a place of worship of the minority Hindu community, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah asserted that Shivalik Mandir in Anantnag was neither attacked by any mob nor damaged.

“I have personally checked from all agencies and found that it was one among a many rumours of the day. Shivalik Mandir is very much intact. There was a mob that attacked and caused damage to security forces posts in close vicinity of the temple. There was no attempt of causing damage to the temple. It is very much intact and safe”, Chief Minister told Early Times over telephone late tonight.

Chief Minister said that the mobs had unfortunately torched several SRTC vehicles, two ambulances of a hospital and Police posts besides damaging several vehicles in stone pelting. He said that the situation was being taken under control. He said that on his instructions a team of Ministers, comprising Minister of Social Welfare Sakeena Itoo, Minister of Education Pirzada Mohammad Sayeed and Chief Minister’s Advisor, Mubarak Gul, had rushed to Anantnag late this evening and they were camping there in an attempt to build communication links with the local population and thus restore normalcy.

Speaking to Early Times from Anantnag later, Minister of Social Welfare Sakeena Itoo said that the team of Ministers held a meeting with DC Anantnag, DIG South Kashmir, SSP Anantnag and several other district officers. She said that the team was in the process of establishing contact with the local population in an attempt to defuse the crisis. She said that dead bodies of all three youth, earlier today killed in CRPF firing, were buried this evening.

As regards the rumour of a temple having burned in the riots, Sakeena asserted that it was a baseless rumour. She too claimed that Shivala Mandir was intact and safe. She said that the team was likely to be joined by Lok Sabha Member of South Kashmir and senior NC leader, Dr Mehboob Baig, who failed to reach Nehru Helipad tonight. She admitted that no vehicular movement was possible on Srinagar-Jammu highway and the Ministers’ team reached Anantnag by a state helicopter.

Earlier today, owing to similar disruption on entire highway from Srinagar to Baramulla, another Ministerial team, comprising Minister of Irrigation and PHE, Taj Mohiuddin, and Minister of Rural Development, Ali Mohammad Sagar, traveled to the turbulent North Kashmir district headquarters of Baramulla in a state helicopter. They held meetings with DC Baramulla and other senior Police officials and District officers.

On his return, Taj Mohiuddin told Early Times that the meeting with officials and some senior and influential citizens was very much fruitful.

END