Administration claims temple collapsed due to heavy rains
Narowal , Pakistan – An incident has come to light where an approximately 100 to 125-year-old Hindu temple was demolished by fanatic Muslims in Siraj village, located in the Narowal district of Pakistan’s Punjab province. This temple was built on 1,000 square metres of land. Local residents, minority organisations, and a political party have alleged that on 21 August, some fanatic Muslims demolished the temple so that its land could be incorporated into an adjacent madrasa; government officials, however, claim that the ancient temple collapsed due to heavy rains.
- The ‘Pakistan Masiha Millat Party’ has demanded action from the Punjab government and the reconstruction of the temple. The party’s president, Aslam Pervez Sahotra, stated that he met the Additional Home Secretary of Punjab and submitted a written complaint. He alleged that the metal fittings of the temple’s shikhar, bricks, and other materials were also subsequently removed from the site. He urged that the security of Hindu temples, Sikh gurudwaras, and Christian churches in Punjab must be guaranteed.
- According to Sahotra, the land adjacent to the temple was previously leased by the ‘Evacuee Trust Property Board’ for building a madrasa. The agreement was cancelled due to non-payment of rent for several years and because the premises were not used for the designated purpose. Even after that, certain individuals had encroached upon parts of the property. Now, when the time came to remove the encroachment, the ‘Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’ party demolished the temple and incorporated the land into the madrasa.
- Sahotra stated that on 29 January 2026, the Sialkot Deputy Administrator of the board had issued an order cancelling the madrasa’s lease agreement, directing the removal of encroachers, and sealing the property. This order was never enforced.
- Hindu community leader Ratan Lal condemned the demolition of the temple and demanded its reconstruction. He stated that the district administration and the ‘Evacuee Trust Property Board’ failed to protect the temple. Due to the presence of the madrasa, people are now afraid to even visit the temple site.
- Rana Iftikhar, a senior official of the ‘Evacuee Trust Property Board’, claimed that the 100 to 125-year-old temple collapsed due to heavy rains. He further claimed that the temple land had not been leased to anyone.
