Bhubaneswar’s Patiagarh residents up in arms against demolition of Hanuman temple 

The residents of Patiagarh in Bhubaneswar took up the cudgels to protect a temple of Lord Hanuman from being demolished on Tuesday. 

Hundreds of people including children and women came out and staged a peaceful protest at the temple to save the temple from being demolished. 

According to locals, the temple is one of the oldest temples in the locality. People from local area and neighbouring areas visit this temple on a regular basis to offer prayers to the Lord. The open space adjacent to the temple is being used for several festivals including “Durga Puja’ and ‘Ravan Podi’ during Dusshera since decades. Now the government has hatched a conspiracy to pull down the temple, the protestors alleged. 

The agitating people said they would hit the streets if the government doesn’t refrain from causing harm to the heritage and tradition of Patiagarh area. 

The villagers also alleged that a conspiracy has been hatched to grab the land by the strength of government machinery and money power.

They said they found it hard to figure out why the government has handed the land over to industrialists. 

They warned they would intensify the agitation if the government doesn’t take permanent steps in this regard. 

“A former RI had taken the land on lease in his father’s name (Kanduri Rout). Then the lease was transferred to the wife of one Rabi Rout. In the due course, the land has changed hands three times. But none has the papers certifying them as the owner of the land. Besides, the matter is subjudice. The court in its order stated that the Mahavir Durga Puja Committee has possessed the land though it doesn’t have the required papers,” said Bana Bihari Panda, former secretary, Mahavir Durga Puja Committee. 

“The person who is claiming ownership of the land is saying that he would take the land into his possession in presence of police force. When the main lease is null and void, how he has become the owner of the land,” he asked. 

“The said land has been under the possession of Mahavir Durga Puja Committee for last 50 years. Starting from festivals including ‘Durga Puja’ and ‘Ravan Podi’ to local people’s family functions like marriage ceremonies are also being held here. We had received a letter from the RI yesterday, informing us that the measurement of the land will take place today. We are opposing this and wouldn’t allow anyone to carry out the measurement,” said Panda. 

“Our demand is a peaceful settlement of the dispute. We would also urge the administration to interfere so that any law and order situation arising out of it can be avoided,” said Nrusingha Rout, a local resident.

(Reported by Kapilendra Pradhan, OTV)