Prabhas Patan: A major demolition operation with 36 JCBs, 70 tractors, 5 Hitachin machines, 10 dumpers and 1400 police men was conducted at Prabhas Patan in Gir Somnath district close to Somnath Mandir. The enchrochments were done on government land by setting up religious and other structures. Large number of minority community members gathered to curiously witness the operation, which was conducted peacefully. However around 13 persons were detained and 130 were arrested after their protest. The area was sterilized before demolition operation and movement of people was restricted in demolition area.

District collector, IG, 3 SPs, 6 DySPs, 50 Police Inspectors and Sub Inspectors were present on the site. The demolition was started very early in the morning at around 4 am. Mushrooming of religious structures on government land is regular feature across Gujarat, especially in coastal areas. Lot of demolition drives have been conducted in the past also at costal places like Bet Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar etc., some of them involving not just merely enchrochment but also land grabbing, menacing activities like drugs trade, smuggling and activities that could compromise our national security.

Mega operation of removing illegal religious structures in Prabhas Patan Somnath https://t.co/griBBNpLMn pic.twitter.com/lzoE2fMEWf

— DeshGujarat (@DeshGujarat) September 28, 2024

According to the district collector, 9 religious structures and 45 other pakka structures that were used as Musafirkhana are demolished in the operation that started at 5.30 am at survey numbers 1851 and 1852. 102 acre land is reclaimed. Kabrastan is kept intact and a compound wall will be built around it. 13 persons were preventively detained while 130 were arrested. DeshGujarat

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