Team Clarion
AHMEDABAD – The authorities in Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district have demolished a 1200-year-old dargah (Muslim shrine), a mosque and graveyard claiming encroachments on the government’s land near Somnath temple.
The demolitions, which was carried out on the early morning of Saturday, are being seen as the violations of the Supreme Court’s order. On 17 September, the Supreme Court in an interim order directed that there should be no demolition without its permission while hearing petitions on the bulldozer actions.
As per reports, around 135 people were detained during a demolition drive.
Hundreds of police personnel were deployed for the drive undertaken to remove the religious structures at Prabhas Patan, the district administration said in a statement.
The administration said religious structures and concrete houses were demolished during the drive that began in the early hours of the day, and it has freed around 15 hectares of land valued at Rs 60 crore.
Labourers were brought in on 52 tractors, 58 bulldozers, two hydra cranes, five dumpers, two ambulances and three firefighters were involved in the exercise,the statement reads.
As per the statement, 788 police personnel and the state reserve police force (SRPF) were deployed along with senior police and district administration officers.
Three superintendents of police, four deputy superintendents of police, 12 inspectors, 24 sub-inspectors, and the additional district magistrate, sub-divisional magistrate, and executive magistrates were present.
“Around 135 people were detained as part of the operation,” the statement said.
Reacting to the demolition drive, Supreme Court advocate Anas Tanwir said that the demolitions are the blatant disregard for the judiciary authority. He also posted a photo of the inscription engraved on the wall of the dargah noting that the structure is a protected monument under the law.
“A 1200-year-old dargah, a protected monument, was demolished by the Gujarat Government in Veraval today—brazenly defying a Supreme Court order. This act signals utter disregard for the judiciary’s authority. If this isn’t undermining the majesty of the court, what is?,” said Tanwir.
He further said “We also need to look at people managing various dargah and ibadatgah. Such a negligent and callous attitude cannot be forgiven. I don’t understand why they did not move HC or SC immediately. Almost all members of the Dargah committee and responsible people of the area have reportedly been detained. The complete area has been cordoned off”.