Author: Pradeep Dutta
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: November 26, 2002
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=13720
The Dharmarth Trust which controls
most temples in Jammu and Kashmir-including the Raghunath Temple-has decided
to provide arms training to priests and supply them licensed weapons to
protect themselves from militant attacks.
''We conveyed our decision to Union
Minister of State for Home I D Swami who visited the Raghunath Temple this
morning,'' Thakur Diwakar Singh, president of the trust, told The Indian
Express.
''The last time the temple was attacked,
we spent lakhs building grills and beefing up security. The only thing
left to do is to arm the priests,'' he said. Swami is said to have asked
the trust to submit a written memorandum to the Centre.
The final toll of Sunday's fidayeen
attack: 13 dead and 52 seriously injured, including five priests. All the
45 priests at the Raghunath Temple have reportedly have expressed their
willingness to get arms training.
''In the current situation, it's
not possible to function without guns,'' said Ashok Sharma, one of the
oldest priests at the temple. ''We saw militants firing at security forces
on Sunday but were empty-handed and could do nothing,'' added another priest.
Ajatshatru Singh, former minister
and a patron of the trust, said a separate demand for protection of temples
in the Valley has also sent to the Centre. The list includes the Shankaracharya
Temple in Srinagar, Ram Temple, Khirbhawani, Sathu Temple, Amarnath Shrine
and one temple each in Pahalgam and Gulmarg.
