Anti-encroachment drive adjacent to Jammu’s Shiv temple sparks protest

Jammu, March 28: The anti-encroachment drive on Tuesday evoked strong protest demonstrations at Lower Roop Nagar, Muthi in Jammu, after the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) demolished the construction adjacent to the Shiv Temple.
The people assembled on the roads, blocked vehicular movement and raised slogans against the JDA alleging that it has hurt their religious sentiments by demolishing the temple construction during the ongoing Navratras.
However, the JDA said that the drive was against the encroachment and it had nothing to do with “anything else”.
“We received information that some illegal construction is being raised alongside the temple,” VC JDA, Pankaj Magotra told Rising Kashmir, adding, “A room and the boundary wall adjacent to the temple were demolished during the anti-encroachment drive.”
The construction was illegal and therefore was demolished, the JDA VC said, adding, “There was an upcoming project in this area and this illegal construction was raised on the encroached land.”
“We needed a 20 ft road for the project which has been now made possible after the demolition of this illegal construction adjacent to the temple,” the VC added.
Meanwhile, the protesters said no notice was served before the demolition. “We would have cooperated had there been any illegal construction, but the JDA action has hurt our sentiments,” they said while raising slogans ‘Jo Mandir Ko Hatayega Seedha Upar Jaayega’ and ‘Hamari Aastha Ka Apmaan Nahin Sahenge’.