Razing Of Temple Wall Sparks Tension

[Nalwa]

AMRITSAR: Tension gripped Bhikhiwind town in Tarn Taran district on Janmashtami day after some unidentified persons vandalized a temple and damaged the Shivlingam. Following this, the market remained shut in protest.

According to reports, a few days ago, the market committee's land adjacent to Swami Shambu Dev Kutia was auctioned for Rs 2.05 crore. The land was purchased by Akali leader and block samiti chairman Sukhwant Singh Chak. It is alleged that the temple wall was constructed on the auctioned land. On Wednesday, a group of people came and razed the wall and damaged the Shivalingam and idol of goddess Kali. Senior police officers and local MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha reached the spot to defuse tension. Valtoha said: "Administration or police could have been approached but hurting religious sentiments is unacceptable. Disciplinary action should be taken at once." District general secretary of BJP Prince Bhikhiwind said that all communities supported their protest and there was no communal tension in town.

Hindu protesting in Ludhiana