-
Illegal use of gelatin and explosives to break the hill
-
Priest threatened by religious zealots
Virar (Thane district) – On a hill in the Kanerfata forest there stands a temple more than 70 years old. Mining contractors and mafiosi Mahboob Baloch and Firoz Baloch have conspired to demolish it. Since last year the hill has been almost completely encircled by contractors. They were permitted to excavate there using a JCB machine, but they began illegally bringing in gelatin and explosives to blast the hill. As a result, a 50‑foot deep fissure has opened in the hill. Deep pits have formed on all four sides of the temple. Only one to two feet of earth now remains between the temple walls and these pits. This has caused cracks to form in the temple walls. The use of explosives to break the hill is completely illegal.
Temple at risk of collapse at any moment
For the past 50 years a priest has been performing worship here. He has been threatened by Ahil Khan. The priest fears that the temple could collapse at any time. The priest said that when he protested the damage, contractor Khan threatened him. The zealots told him the temple would be re‑erected elsewhere. They also threatened the priest not to tell anyone about the explosives.
Media and administration silent
Despite the danger that the temple could collapse because of these illegal encroachments by religious zealots, there is widespread discussion about the silence of the media and the administration. No action appears to have been taken by the administration against the illegal digging. When journalists raised the matter, the administration merely said it would tell the tahsildars to send a notice to the contractor and avoided committing to concrete action.
Government intervention urgently needed says villagers
There is anger in the surrounding villages too. Locals say, “This mining is not only illegal but deliberately targets the temple by religious zealots. On one side the priest is frightened, and on the other the administration is silent. The very existence of a 70‑year‑old temple is now in question. This is a serious matter that urgently requires Government intervention.”
Source : Sanatan Prabhat
