KARACHI: Karachi’s Hindu community woke up on Saturday morning to find the old Mari Mata Temple razed to the ground by Soldier Bazaar.
Residents of the area said that the operation took place late on Friday night when there was a power outage. That’s when diggers and a bulldozer arrived to do their job. While the temple’s outer walls and main entrance remained intact, they demolished the entire inner structure.
Residents have also reported seeing police mobiles there to provide ‘cover’ for the men operating the machines.
They said that Mari Mata Temple is located on Mukhi Chohitam Road near Soldier Bazar Police Station.
“This is a very old temple,” informed Sri Ram Nath Mishra Maharaj of another very old temple near the Sri Panch Mukhi Hanuman Mandir. the morning.
“It is said to have been built 150 years ago. We have also heard stories about old treasures buried in its courtyard,” he said, adding that it is spread over about 400 to 500 square meters and has been in the eye of land grabbers for some time now.
“The mandir was under the administration of the Madrasi Hindu community in Karachi and as it was said to be a very old and dangerous structure, the mandir management reluctantly but temporarily shifted their deities after much pressure. A small room near the storm water drain until renovation work was carried out there,” he said.
But last night Mari Mata Mandir was deserted,” he added.
Meanwhile, a member of the Madrasi Hindu community said that two men, Emraan Hashmi and Rekha AKA Naagin Bai, are forcing them to evacuate. Rumor has it that the two have sold the temple to another party for Rs 70 million and the buyers are looking to construct a commercial building there. It is also mentioned that there are some fake documents in the name of person ‘Nawaid’ which allowed the lease of the commercial plot to be transferred to the commercial firm.
The community requested the Pakistan-Hindu Council, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and the Sindh Inspector General of Police to look into the matter urgently.
Published on July 16, 2023 in Dawn