Munish Sood
Chamba
Tension gripped Kalyu village in the Sillaghrat area of Chamba district on Saturday morning after an alleged act of desecration at the revered Jalpa Mata Temple triggered outrage among local residents.
According to preliminary information, the incident occurred around 5:00 a.m. when a youth reportedly entered the temple premises and allegedly set fire to the sacred cloth offered to the deity. The cloth, considered a holy offering by devotees, was partially damaged in the incident, leading to strong resentment among villagers.
Residents claimed that the accused, who belongs to another community, had entered the temple early in the morning and set the cloth on fire, thereby hurting religious sentiments and disturbing the sanctity of the shrine. When villagers reached the temple later in the morning and noticed the damage, news of the incident quickly spread across the area, drawing a large number of people to the site.
The situation created tension in the village, prompting immediate intervention by the police. On receiving information, the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Sadar Police Station rushed to the spot along with a police team to assess the situation and ensure that law and order was maintained.
Police officials said the accused youth had fled from the scene after the incident. Authorities have initiated a search operation and have also questioned members of the local Muslim community as part of the investigation to identify and locate the suspect.
The SHO of Sadar Police Station has taken a strict stance in the matter and directed the police team to trace and arrest the accused at the earliest and bring him to Chamba for further legal action. A case has been registered and a detailed investigation is currently underway.
Meanwhile, in a bid to calm the situation, family members of the accused youth met village residents and publicly apologised for the incident. Expressing deep regret, they assured the community that such an incident would not be repeated in the future.
Police officials said efforts are being made to maintain peace in the area and urged residents not to spread rumours while the investigation continues.
