Hindus denied nod to pray at Vidisha's Bijamandal; collector cites ASI's 'mosque' notification
Vidisha, Aug 8: The Vidisha district administration in Madhya Pradesh has cited an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) notification and refused to open the 11th century Bijamandal to allow Hindus to offer prayers on Nagpanchmi, which will be celebrated on Friday.
A group of Hindus had submitted a memorandum to Collector Buddhesh Kumar Vaidya to open the site in the heart of the city on Nagpanchami, when snakes are worshipped.
In turn, the collector forwarded their plea to ASI, which, on August 2, cited a gazette notification of 1951 and stated Bijamandal was not a temple but a mosque.
Collector Vaidya told PTI the ASI is the custodian of the structure so he had forwarded the memorandum to allow it to take a call on the matter.
Expressing disappointment, Shubham Verma, leader of the Hindu group that submitted the memorandum, told PTI, "We have been worshipping there (outside the structure) on Nagpanchami for the last 30 years but no one had said it was a mosque and not a temple."
The sentiments of Hindus have been hurt with the ASI's description of it as a mosque, said Verma showing the collector's letter along with the ASI's gazette notification.
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Man killed in flat ceiling plaster crash, wife and son hurt
Thane (PTI): A 45-year-old man was killed, and his wife and son were injured when a portion of plaster from the ceiling collapsed in their flat in a seven-storey building in Thane on Saturday, officials said.
Chief of the Regional Disaster Management Cell, Yasin Tadvi, said the 16-year-old building is not listed in the "dangerous" category.
"The incident occurred in Karumdev Society at about 3 am. The plaster of the hall in a flat on the terrace floor suddenly fell while the occupants were asleep", he said.
Of the four people who were inside the room, two suffered minor injuries and were discharged after primary treatment, Tadvi stated.
The injured persons were identified as Arpita More (42), who suffered minor head injuries, and her son Arush More (16), who sustained injuries to both legs.
Manoj More (45), who sustained chest injuries, died during treatment at a private hospital.
