rTemples desecrated and damaged in Kashmir from 1990 - Dec.1992

rTemples desecrated and damaged in Kashmir from 1990 - Dec.1992

1. 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