Shivling issue: Two cops suspended

SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT of Police Dr GK Goswami on Wednesday night suspended officer incharge of Kotwali Police Station, Ajay Prakash Srivastava and sub-inspector, Ramvriksha in view of dispute over installing Shivling in Harteerath area.

SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT of Police Dr GK Goswami on Wednesday night suspended officer incharge of Kotwali Police Station, Ajay Prakash Srivastava and sub-inspector, Ramvriksha in view of dispute over installing Shivling in Harteerath area.

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The SSP suspended both the cops for not intimating senior police and district officials about the incident and trying to solve the entire issue on their own.

Tension prevailed for some time at Harteerath area under the Kotwali police station on Wednesday following an attempt to install a new Shivling in a temple situated on the premises of a mosque here.

Reports said that the old Shivling had got damaged in the heavy storm on Monday night when a tree fell down on it. Devotees tried to install a new Shivling of big size to replace the damaged one. But, members of the other community opposed it.

Soon, police rushed the spot and arranged a meeting of religious leaders of both communities. It was decided that a new Shivling of same old size would be installed here instead of a big one.

Mufti-e-Benaras Maulana Abdul Batin Nomani and chief priest of Sankat Mochan Temple, Prof Veer Bhadra Mishra and other senior members of both the communities held two rounds of discussion on the issue. After the meeting it was decided that no new tradition will start at the disputed place. Members of the Hindu community had been worshipping the damaged idol as Kritivaseshwar
Mahadev.