PANAJI
Congress leader Sunil Kawthankar on Monday lodged a complaint against the Porvorim police, Bardez Mamlatdar and the highway contractor with the Crime Branch, Ribandar alleging illegal demolition of the Dev Kapreshwar temple in Porvorim.
Kawthankar alleged that the demolition took place without any legal notice or due process, which caused widespread distress and outrage among the local community.
“On March 2-3, without any legal notice or due process, the Dev Kapreshwar Temple, which holds immense religious significance for not just Hindus but the local community as well, was illegally demolished. The idol of Dev Kapreshwar was desecrated by officials of the Porvorim police station, the Joint Mamlatdar (Bardez), and the contractor involved in the construction of the national highway. This was done with common intention and criminal conspiracy,” he stated.
Kawthankar further claimed that the act deeply hurt the religious sentiments of Hindu devotees and the general public. It was this reason that led to widespread unrest.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) President Amit Palekar pointed out that the High Court’s order was specifically for the translocation of a banyan tree, not for the removal of the temple.
“People were fine (with the High Court order), but when it came to the temple’s demolition, they protested. The temple was removed without any proper rituals, which aggravated public outrage,” Palekar said, visibly emotional over the development, during a press conference.
