[Reader-list] 170 Kashmir temples hit by militancy: Report

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

170 Kashmir temples hit by militancy: Report

Ishfaq Naseem
Indian Express
March 23, 2009

Link -
http://www.kashmirlive.com/story/170-Kashmir-temples-hit-by-militancy-Report/437922.html


*Jammu *A report by the Jammu and Kashmir government's Revenue Department
has revealed that as many as 170 temples were damaged in the 19 years of
militancy in the Valley. However, the Government has begun repairs on 90
temples and incurred an expenditure of Rs 33 lakh.

The report comes soon after the Jammu and Kashmir Government tabled the
Hindu Shrine's Management Bill in the Assembly seeking to make an inventory
of temple property. The Bill also seeks to constitute a Shrine Board at the
state level and management committees in the districts for protection of
temples. However, the Bill, introduced by the last Government, has not yet
been passed due to the change of Government.

Law Secretary A H Kochak said while the Bill is likely to come up for
discussion in the next Assembly session, the Government had the option of
passing an ordinance in the interim to protect temples in the Valley.

However, Dr Ajay Chrungoo, chairman of Panun Kashmir, a frontal organisation
of Kashmiri Pandits, said the state Government has been sitting on the law
to protect temples for long. "The exercise to frame a law has been going on
for the last more than six years," he said. A survey conducted by Panun
Kashmir has revealed extensive damage to temple properties and encroachments
across the Valley, he said, adding that "at many places government
departments had even encroached on the temple property".

However, Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Masood Samoon said "the temples in
Kashmir were not under any threat. They have been guarded by the police,
while at many places locals are protecting the structures".