The Hindu community in Karachi woke up to a shocker after discovering that a 150-year-old-holy shrine Mari Mata Temple was destroyed into pieces in Karachi’s Soldier Bazaar, as reported by Dawn.
The locals claimed that the operation took place at night when the area was facing electricity outage. The bulldozers destroyed the inner area excluding the outer walls and main gate.
Reportedly, as per the residents they spotted police vehicles to cover for the people using bulldozers and other vehicles to demolish the temple.
As per them the Mari Mata Temple lies on Mukhi Chohitram Road, in close proximity to Soldier Bazaar police station.
Shri Ram Nath Mishra Maharaj of Shri Panch Mukhi Hanuman Mandir, which is again a very traditionally built temple near the location spoke to Dawn and said “It is a very old Mandir.”
He further said, “It is said to have been built over 150 years ago. We have also heard of stories about old treasures buried in its courtyard.”
“The Mandir was under the management of the Madarsi Hindu community of Karachi and since it was being said that it was very old and dangerous structure that might topple any day, the Mandir management after much pressure reluctantly but temporarily moved most of their deities to a small room near the storm water train until they could carry out some renovation work there,” he mentioned.
He also stated, “But last night the Mari Mata Mandir was just flattened.”
On the other hand, a member of the Madrasi Hindu group stated that they were being persuaded and forced to leave by Imran Hashmi and Rekha AKA Nagin Bai. There were rounds of discourse on selling the temple to a third party for Pakistan Rupee (PKR) 70 million to build a commercial structure.
The community has appealed to the Pakistan-Hindu Council, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, and the Inspector General of Sindh Police to take cognizance of the situation and take action against it immediately, as reported by Dawn.
