Bareilly, Amrit Vichar: There is an allegation of encroachment on the old Ganga Maharani temple and its land in the Katghar area of the fort. It is being said that landlord Thakur Laxman Singh had donated this land to the temple a hundred years ago. Later, the warehouse of the Cooperative Department opened here, for which the watchman Wajid hired also called his family here. Now Chowkidar Wajid is living here with his wife, brother, two sons and daughter-in-law, but no trace of the temple has been erased. There has been no puja there for 40 years. The descendants of the Zamindar family claim that the existence of a temple here can be confirmed from the documents present in the tehsil.
Katghar resident Rakesh Singh Maharaj claims that his ancestor Laxman Singh had donated this land to Ganga Maharani Temple. Its papers written in Urdu in the year 1905 are present in Tehsil Sadar. He says that a servant was kept in the temple, after his death, a room there was rented out to Dauli Raghuvardayal Sadhan Cooperative Society and fertilizer was sold, at that time there used to be a Shivalinga under a Neem tree at that place. There was also a well in front of the building. In one part of the temple, there were the feet of Queen Ganga. There was a well in the back part also. Everyone used to go to worship, but now there is nothing there. Pooja has also been closed for 40 years because the watchman of the society to whom we had given a room, settled his family here. Now his wife and two sons, his wife and brother also live with him.
Chowkidar Wajid said – has been living with the family for 40 years
On reaching the spot, watchman Wajid was found outside. He told that he had come 40 years ago. Sons Sajid, Rakib and his wife also live with him. He is the watchman of the society. A secretary pays him a salary. It was also claimed that manure was kept in the room above which the society board was installed. Called himself a government watchman. Meanwhile, his wife, who arrived on the bike with his brother Ishfaq Ali, said that if the society is vacant then we will also leave.
Descendant Narendra Singh said – Ganga Maharani Temple is on the occupied building
Narendra Singh, one of the descendants of Laxman Singh, told that there is a temple of Ganga Maharani in the captured building. Alleged that Wajid and his family do not allow anyone to enter the temple. Starting from living in one room, they have gradually taken over the entire building. The well has also been plugged. There is no trace of Shivalinga under the tree. The Charan Paduka room of Ganga Maharani Temple is locked. When access to the temple has been closed from everywhere, then who will go to the temple after fighting?
Took charge of society by breaking locks
Vikas Sharma, secretary of Dauli Raghuvar Dayal Sadhan Cooperative Society of Block Kyara, said that after the death of the former secretary of the society, the Tehsildar had given him the charge of the society by breaking the lock. There were two rooms in the society’s part of the court. There are locks in them. When he took charge, there was a watchman and many families were living there. He had asked for Aadhar card from watchman Wajid, then Wajid gave him the Aadhar card with great difficulty. At that time his age was 72 years.
Told that he got the charge in 2021, since then he has not paid salary to Wajid, who calls himself a watchman. Even fertilizer has not been distributed there for many years. The secretary told that on Tuesday the watchman had come to him and requested him to get the manure unloaded in the godown, then he had told the watchman that the new building of the society has been built in Dauli. That space is no longer needed.
Wajid is a watchman in the society of Cooperative Department, there is no such record in the department. How can someone who has barely shown his Aadhar card and who turned 72 three years ago still call himself a watchman? It is an old matter, we will get it shown tomorrow – Brijesh Singh Parihar, AR Cooperative.
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