New Delhi: Protests were held in Jammu on Sunday after a Hindu temple was allegedly defaced by unknown culprits in Reasi district. The police said a group of unidentified people attacked the Shiv temple in Dharmari, about 50 km from Reasi district, on Saturday night.The local community said that when they visited the temple last night, they saw the Shivling and idols were damaged and the entire temple was devastated. As pictures and videos of the defaced went viral on social media, several Hindu organizations, including Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and locals held protests in various places in the district, demanding that the culprits be brought to justice. Locals have given the administration 24 hours to arrest those involved. A Hindu temple was attacked and vandalised by unknown persons in DHARMARI area of Reasi during intervening night of 29/30 June 2024.#stopattacksonhindutemple @vishesh_jk @REASIPOLICE @manojsinha_ @dograjournalist @dograjournalist @VikramadityaSum @Rijuljk @drmonika_langeh pic.twitter.com/9lPfrV8lNF— Save Jammu (Hindu) 🇮🇳 (@JammuSave) June 30, 2024What did police officials sayConsidering the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Reasi, Vishesh Mahajan, reached the spot and inspected the temple. He said those responsible will not be spared and arrests will be made as soon as possible.The senior police also talked about the incident to the reporters. He said Whoever is trying to create tension in Reasi will not be spared. Those who want to disrupt peace and development in the district will not succeed. The police and administration are working on the case, and soon those involved will be arrested. We will not tolerate any attempt to damage peace in Reasi. An FIR will be filed, and the culprits will be arrested. Strict action will be taken under relevant laws. Assault on harmony and religious sentiments: BJP leaderMeanwhile, BJP leader Ajay Nanda criticized the defacement at the Shiv temple and urged the administration and police to take strong action against those responsible for disrupting religious harmony. He called the attack on the temple an assault on harmony and religious sentiments.I strongly condemn the vandalism at Dharmari Shiv Mandir in Reasi district of Jammu & Kashmir. I urge the LG administration @OfficeOfLGJandK @DMReasi @JmuKmrPolice to take strict action against the culprits who aim to disrupt religious harmony, he posted on the platform X.An attack on a temple is not just an attack on religious feelings but also harms harmony. Authorities must act swiftly to uphold religious harmony, he further added.I strongly condemn the vandalism at Dharmari Shiv Mandir in Reasi district of Jammu & Kashmir and request the LG administration @OfficeOfLGJandK @DMReasi @JmuKmrPolice to take strict action against the culprits who want to disturb religious harmony.An attack on a temple is not… pic.twitter.com/AG3tqjQo0Y— Advocate Ajay Nanda (@ajay_mlnanda) June 30, 2024
