Demolition Action Near Somnath Temple; Shops, House Razed

Somnath: A late-night demolition drive near the Somnath Temple saw six structures, including four shops, a residential building and a mosque, demolished amid tight police security, officials said.

The demolition was carried out around 2.30 am near the temple’s Digvijay Gate, as the district administration deployed bulldozers and a large police contingent. The administration said the properties had earlier been purchased by the Revenue Department as part of the Somnath Corridor development project and were being cleared to facilitate the project.

The action, however, has raised questions over the status of a Persian inscription at the site that had reportedly been identified as a protected monument by the Gujarat Department of Archaeology. It is not yet clear whether the inscription was safely removed before the demolition or whether it suffered any damage during the operation.

According to officials, the demolition involved four shops, one residential house and a religious structure near the Digvijay Gate. The operation began late at night, with the administration bringing in JCB machines and other equipment to clear the structures. Debris removal was underway after the demolition.

A large police force was deployed in and around the area to prevent any law-and-order issues during the operation. The deployment included one DYSP, three police inspectors, six police sub-inspectors and around 85 police personnel. Teams from the Local Crime Branch (LCB) and Special Operations Group (SOG) were also present.

Police said the demolition was completed without any untoward incident and that the law-and-order situation remained normal throughout the operation.

The district administration maintained that the demolition was undertaken as part of the Somnath Corridor development and involved properties that had already been purchased by the Revenue Department. DeshGujarat