Picture from the demolition drive inside the temple premise (Image: PTI)
On July 15, a 150-year-old Mari Mata temple was demolished in Karachi’s Soldier Bazaar area by the authorities. The administration following the rage among the Hindu community had said, ‘The temple was too old and hence the demolition was required’.
According to locals, the operation took place late at night on July 14, while there was no electricity in the area. In the dark, diggers and bulldozers arrived to demolish the oldest structure.
The authorities razed the entire inner structure while leaving the outer walls and the main gate intact. Residents reportedly claimed to see a police vehicle present to give ‘cover’ for the individuals operating the bulldozers and other equipment, as per Dawn.
According to them, the Mari Mata Temple lies on Mukhi Chohitram Road, very close to the Soldier Bazaar police station.
Shri Ram Nath Mishra Maharaj of Shri Panch Mukhi Hanuman Mandir, another very old temple nearby told Dawn, “It is a very old Mandir.”
“They (authorities) did it very early in the morning and we were not informed this was going to happen,” he added.
He also said, “It is said to have been built over 150 years ago. We have also heard of stories about old treasures buried in its courtyard,” adding that it covered nearly 400 to 500 square yards and there had been conversation of the encroachers, who had their eye on it for some time now, reported Dawn.
“The Mandir was under the management of the Madarsi Hindu community of Karachi and since it was being said that it was an ancient and dangerous structure that might topple any day, the Mandir management after much pressure reluctantly but temporarily moved most of their deities to a small room near the stormwater train until they could carry out some renovation work there,” he added.
He also said, “But last night the Mari Mata Mandir was just flattened.”
Meanwhile, a member of the Madrasi Hindu group claimed that they were being forced to leave by two people: Imran Hashmi and Rekha alias Nagin Bai. There was also a discussion of the two people selling the temple to another party for Pakistan Rupee (PKR) 70 million, with the buyers planning to build a commercial structure there. There was also mention of some forged documents in the name of an individual Navaid, facilitating the transformation of the amenity plot’s lease to a commercial one.
The community has requested that the Pakistan-Hindu Council, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, and the Inspector General of Sindh Police take note and investigate the incident immediately, Dawn reported.
Following the targeted action against the religious minorities in Pakistan, the Friends of India Society International, a social organisation based in USA condemned the act.
In a press note, the Senior Vice President International, Jatinder Kumar said, “On behalf of overseas Hindus, Friends of India Society International strongly condemns the bulldozing of 150 years old Hindu Temple, Mari Mata Mandir, in Karachi. We hope that the governments of Pakistan and Sindh will apprehend the culprits, bring them to justice and give the land back to Hindus.”
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