The demolition of a longstanding Shiva temple created massive outrage and protest in Silchar town of Assam. The demolition by the municipality sparked a joint protest by the members of the Bajrang Dal and the workers of the Congress. The incident just before the Shivaratri created a tense situation in the area.
The Shiva temple, situated on Park Road in Silchar town, reportedly stood for three decades before its demolition by the municipality on 3rd of March. In the middle of the night, the authorities of the municipality destroyed the temple. The municipality used a JCB to destroy the temple, alleged a local resident.
In response to the demolition, members of the Bajrang Dal gathered on the site on the 4th of March and staged a protest. Soon, a group of Congress workers joined the protest, led by Abhijit Paul, Cachar District President. Also, local residents in large numbers joined the protest. As the protest intensified, the situation turned tense.
The arrival of SP Numal Mahatta helped defuse tensions as he engaged with the protesting participants, assuring them a thorough investigation into the matter. Mahatta’s intervention provided a temporary respite.
A member of the Bajrang Dal expressed anger over the lack of prior notification to the temple committee regarding the demolition. He also questioned why the municipality demolished the temple in the darkness.
