Prabhas Patan: Authorities in Somnath today carried out demolition action and removed illegal encroachments near Ram Mandir under heavy police security. Over 30 unauthorized residential structures were razed around Rudreshwar Mandir. The issue of illegal constructions had long been a point of contention between the Somnath Temple Trust and encroachers, leading to legal proceedings. The court ruled in favor of the Somnath Trust, prompting today’s action to clear the encroachments in front of the Ram Mandir.

The Somnath Trust alleged that unauthorized structures had been built on its property and filed a complaint regarding illegal encroachments on survey number 37/1, covering 3,849.04 square yards. The encroachers, however, claimed they had been residing on the land for a long time and considered it their own. The case was contested in court, where the trust provided documentary evidence to support its ownership. The court ruled in favor of the Somnath Trust and ordered the encroachers to vacate the premises. Following this ruling, the court commissioner issued a written notice to the encroachers on March 19.

Despite the court order, the encroachers refused to vacate the land, leading to strict enforcement action today. To prevent conflicts, the demolition was carried out in the presence of senior officials under tight police security. Bulldozers were used to remove over 30 unauthorized residential structures, restoring the land to the Somnath Trust. DeshGujarat