Press Conference by Temple Management Committee in Jaintapur, Seek Administration, Intervention to Protect Temple from Land Grabbers.

Naeem Ahmad, Jaintapur-Gowainghat (Sylhet) Correspondent. The management committee of Sri Sri Jagannath Dev Akhra, in Jaintapur Upazila, Sylhet, has alleged attempts to occupy the historic temple and threats and intimidation against the temple's priest and Vaishnavs to force them to leave. They claim that a vested-interest family is deliberately carrying out various conspiracies with the aim of grabbing debuttar [dedicated to deity] property. In this situation, they have urged the administration to urgently intervene to ensure the temple's security and to keep religious activities running normally. These allegations were made by Shardindu Dash Purkayastha, General Secretary of the Sri Sri Jagannath Dev Akhra Management Committee, at a press conference held on Tuesday (August 4) at the Jaintapur Press Club auditorium. In his written statement, he said that Sri Sri Jagannath Dev Akhra, located in Purba Lakshiproshad Mouza of Jaintapur Upazila, is an ancient Hindu religious institution. After religious activities had been closed for a long time, local followers of the Sanatan Dharma took the initiative to resume worship in late 1999. At that time, it was alleged that neighbor Moti Lal Das, harassed them by filing various lawsuits. He further stated that later, following court directives and administrative initiatives, an investigation committee was formed. The investigation found that about 17 bighas of land, including the Akhra house bwere in the name of Lord Jagannath Dev, while some other land was wrongly recorded in the names of various individuals. After that, a lawsuit was filed in court to establish ownership of the debuttar property and to correct the records. At the end of the long legal process, on May 29 of this year, the Senior Assistant Judge Court ruled in favor of establishing the deity's ownership. Following the verdict, the temple was renovated, and arrangements for the priest’s residence and drinking water were completed. On June 17 - The Sri Sri Jagannath Dev Temple and deity, were re-established in the presence of thousands of devotees. After that, worship was being conducted peacefully, he claimed. However, on July 2, when they went to identify the agricultural land of the debuttar,property, a planned clash was instigated, alleged Shardindu Dash Purkayastha. In connection with this incident,,Bakul Das filed a case as plaintiff against him and several others associated with the temple. Since then, he alleged, the priest and Vaishnavs have been threatened and told to leave the temple, and attempts are being made to shut down the Akhra’s activities. At the press conference, allegations of biased behavior were also made against, Masuq Mia, UP Member of Nijpat Union,and local journalist Nurul Islam. The written statement claimed that Masuq Mia was present at the scene, later became a witness in the case, and started plowing the debuttar land. At the same time, journalist Nurul Islam was also accused of taking the side of the opposing party. At the press conference, the temple management committee strongly demanded that the administration take quick and effective steps to ensure the security of the priest and Vaishnavs, create an environment for normal religious activities at the temple, and protect the debuttar property.