Hindus, Muslims Stage Joint Protests After Shiv Temple Found Vandalised In J-K’s Reasi; 12 Detained

Locals belonging to both Muslim and Hindu communities staged joint protests in Reasi district after a Shiv temple was found vandalised in the Dharmari area on Saturday night.

Written by: India.com News Desk Edited by: Gazi Abbas Shahid

Published: June 30, 2024, 11:17 PM IST

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Reasi Temple: Residents belonging to both Hindu and Muslim communities staged massive protests in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday after a local Shiva temple was allegedly found vandalised by unidentified miscreants.

District officials said a ‘place of worship’ was found ransacked by a visitor in a village in the Dharmari area of Reasi on Saturday evening, sparking tension and spontaneous protests in the region.

#Hindu temple was attacked and vandalised by unknown persons in Dharmari area of #Reasi during intervening night of 29/30 June 2024.

The SSP has also formed a Special Investigation Team, looking at the sensitivity of the matter. DSP-level officers will look into the matter. pic.twitter.com/Ilx83ovDYp

— YouthPlusNews.Com (@TheYouthPlus) June 30, 2024

Locals belonging to both Muslim and Hindu communities staged joint protests and demanded strict punishment for the culprits who are trying to stir communal tensions in the district with such acts.

The protesters, who blocked the main road in the district by burning tyres and staging a sit-in, said such incidents were a deliberate attempt to create a rift among them to harm the age-old communal brotherhood in the district.

Officials said the protesters dispersed peacefully after senior police officers told them that an FIR has been registered and efforts are on to nab the culprits.

Reasi Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Paul Mahajan also assured the protesters that stern action will be taken against the culprits.

“Anyone trying to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere will not be spared. It is an attempt to create hurdles and sabotage developmental activities, besides communal harmony. This is my guarantee…. We will not tolerate any attempt to damage peace in the district,” the deputy commissioner said.

Meanwhile, local police said they have detained 12 people in connection with the alleged incident and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the case.

A case under section 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been lodged at the Arnas police station and further investigation is on, a senior police officer said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Reasi, Mohita Sharma said that sensing the gravity of the incident, an SIT has been constituted under the supervision of the deputy superintendent of police, operations, Reasi, who along with his team is stationed in Arnas for the investigation of the case on priority.

Police teams swung into action and rounded up three suspects on Saturday night, while a series of raids continued on Sunday and around nine more suspects were apprehended for questioning, the SSP said.

The SSP appealed to people to maintain calm, peace and communal harmony in the district, assuring them that police are committed to solving the case and tracing the culprits at the earliest.