Srinagar, Aug 18: J&K Waqf Board staff, supported by police, on Wednesday removed over 100 Mujavirs (custodians and caretakers) and dozens of donation boxes from major shrines across Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir region.
This move follows the J&K administration’s orders banning centuries-old localized fund collection practices at Sufi and Reshi shrines – revered by people from all religions – in Kashmir.
Sections of civil society have expressed their disapproval for the move, calling the caretakers and localized fund raising for the upkeep of these shrines part of a centuries-old culture of Kashmir.
“It is like a part of Kashmir rich Sufi-Reshi culture was erased with the strike of a pen. While one can understand administrative measures of bringing in greater transparency in the localized fund collection at these shrines, it is unimaginable how a state authority can do something like this with an integral part of Kashmir’s syncretic culture”, said Syed Subhan, who teaches Kashmir’s Sufi culture.
Waqf Board officials were quoted by KNO news agency as saying that those removed include 35 Mujavirs from Dastgeer Sahab shrine, Srinagar, while 52 Mujavirs were removed from Makhdoom Sahab shrine and 15 were removed from Khanqah-e-Moula shrine.
The officials further said that 36 Mujavirs were removed from Ashmuqam Pahalgam shrine while 20 were removed from Chrar-e-Shareef and eight from Khawaja Naqshband Sahib Shrine in Khawaja Bazar.
The donation boxes installed by these Mujavirs were also sealed and taken into custody, the officials said, adding that at some shrines, there were Shama Daan in which people used to donate money, were also removed.
“The Mujavirs at some shrines falling under the jurisdiction of Waqf have been given a day or two to vacate the spot,” the officials said, adding that there are strict directions from the higher ups in this regard after complaints were received against these Muajvirs that they are involved in seeking donations forcefully from the devotees
—(With inputs from KNO)
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