A sensational video clip of Rajasthan police lathi-charging Hindus protesting against the demolition of a temple has surfaced on social media. The administration reasons that the temple was demolished following a court order allegedly because it infringed on a water body. Local Hindus state that the petitioner has a personal interest in the concerned property.
On the basis of the Rajasthan High Court’s order on November 23 Sirohi district administration demolished the Hanuman temple located on Abu Road.
Hindus opposed the demolition drive and blocked the road. Sirohi police resorted to lathi charges to disseminate the crowd and continue the demolition drive. Hindus had to resort to stone pelting as they were brutally thrashed by the police. As a result, six cops were wounded and 12 Hindus were apprehended.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate(SDM) of Sirohi told media that one Kantilal Upadhyay had filed a plea in the high court in November 2018 alleging that the water pond in Satpur encroached and Hanuman temple was constructed on the boundary of the pond. The court held an order in his favour terming the temple as an encroachment and ordered its demolition on November 17 2022 and directed to file a compliance report on November 24.
The collector stated that 14 bighas of the waterbody were encroached which has been removed now. We do not know how much land was ‘encroached’ by the temple.
Locals argue that Kantilal Upadhyay, the petitioner, has a personal interest in the land on which the temple was constructed. It is reported that angry locals tried to barge into his house following the demolition. More than 20 people have been charged for protesting against the demolition.
