STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Bahu Fort Development Committee (BFDC) has condemned the attempt of tampering with archaeological protected ancient structure of Bahu Fort, which housed Jammu’s deity Maa Bawe Wali by unknown miscreants and unobvious silence of the administration on the criminal act.
Speaking to media, Rajeev Charak President BFDC said that some miscreants tried to installed fabricated structure in fortified archaeological protected monument, which remained under tight security of Jammu and Kashmir police and paramilitary forces.
Charak surprised to know that despite being protected by men and technology driven gadgets, nobody knows that about so called miscreants who raised constructions in broad day light.
He alleged that police and district administration tried to save offender, which is again a criminal offence as per laid down laws. He said after BFDC raised the issue, the directorate of archeology and museums, Jammu and Kashmir writes to district administration to take action against violators under relevant sections of J&K Ancient Monument Preservation Act 1920. However, so far, no action has been initiated and police has been failed to identify the violator who raised the structure. Charak further said that earlier also the temple management tempted with the protected monument and raise various constructions but complaints and representations by people still biting dust in deputy commissioner’s office.
He urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to constitute a committee and investigate the matter.
Charak Further said that since 1997 to till now, BFDC held protests, campaigns and press meets demanding constitution of Shrine Board for Bawe Wali Mata temple, but our demand has been put on back burner.
He informed that on March 4, 2023 the Divisional Commissioner Jammu wrote a letter to the Secretary Tourism Department J&K in this regard stating endorsements from the Deputy Commissioner Jammu and Director Tourism Jammu to constitute the Shrine Board for the Fort Shrine but that files also biting dust in the office.
He said demand for establishment of Shrine Board for Bawe Wali Mata temple remained there from certain sections of the society in Jammu. Charak appealed to the Lt Governor to consider their demand on merits and in the interest of public at large pass the order for the constitution of Shrine Board.