SECURITY CONCERNS OF BRAJ TEMPLES

Mathura

 

With increase in the number of pilgrims, an alarming law and order situation is developing in the whole of Braj Mandal. Each day pockets are picked, chains snatched and women harassed in the lanes and temples but the police and the administrative agencies simply feel helpless.

 

Activists and temple priests have now drawn the attention of the state government to tackle the crime situation in the area which attracts millions of pilgrims round the year. At the famous Bankey Bihari temple, only a dozen cops look after the security. "Of these many are absent while a few can be seen gossiping at the shops around the complex," says Rakesh Mohan, a panda. In recent years, some famous temples in Vrindavan have hired private security services. "Even so chain snatching and pick pocketing are a regular feature," says a regular visitor to Vrindavan, Ms Vimala, a home maker in Agra.

 

Local residents in Mathura, Goverdhan and Vrindavan feel lack of adequate security apparatus despite terrorist alerts in the past continues to remain a major cause for concern, with more crimes reported on a daily basis, than was the case till some years ago. "The influx of pilgrims from all over India with fat purses and golden chains around the necks are luring anti social elements from distant places," says a transporter of Mathura Ajit Choudhary.

 

Senior police officials in the district have on several occasions written to the state administration to provide more resources, infrastructural and manpower, but the response is still awaited.

 

On Friday, police teams with dog squad and members of bomb disposal unit visited several temples in Vrindavan and Goverdhan, following concerns expressed by priests and politicians.

 

"But we need permanent bandobast. It should be remembered that the religious shrines in Braj mandal are visited by more people than the Taj Mahal. Every month lakhs go to Goverdhan for the parikrama. On festival days like Janamashtmi or Holi, the number of pilgrims exceeds a million. Unfortunately the authorities pay little or no attention to the security needs of Sri Krishna Janam Bhoomi campus or the ghats of Mathura. It is only Lord Krishna's kripa that we have not witnessed stampedes or any major mishaps. The Barsana stampede two years ago in which a few pilgrims died, has failed to wake up the officials. Recently armed bandits attacked Yatris in Goverdhan and looted them during the Braj Chaurasi Kos Yatra. Several Gujarati pilgrims abandoned the yatra mid-way. Even then the security has not been beefed," laments Sewanand Brahmchari of the Akhandanand Ashram.

 

Not just in Vrindavan, in Mathura and Goverdhan too, traffic jams have become a permanent feature. "They have no traffic plans. If there is an emergency or the mob goes berserk for some reason, they would feel helpless to tackle the crisis. On days in Goverdhan its like an ocean of humanity without end. In Vrindavan, the stretch from Prem Mandir to Sri Krishn-Balram temple of the ISKCON, is most vulnerable with so many white foreigners. Nobody knows for sure who stays in ashrams and how many flats are occupied by whom. Vehicles are abandoned just about anywhere....Its total anarchy here," adds Damodar Shastri of Gauvansh Rakshak Mission.

 

After the opening of the Yamuna Expressway, the number of visitors to Braj mandal has increased several fold. On weekends the crowd from Punjab, Haryana, Western UP districts takes over Vrindavan.

 

"You cant count the number of vehicles and they are parked everywhere. Vrindavan is famous for its narrow lanes and have more than 3000 temples, each with its own set of devotees. You need more cops to manage the traffic and keep a tab on anti-social elements. Openly drugs are being sold, girls being harassed, chains snatched in Bihari ji Ka mandir, in Goverdhan pick pockets abound. Women in Braj are not safe. Cops themselves are insensitive to problems of the local people. The situation has gone worse from bad. The concerned authorities should now wake up," says social activist and teacher Laxmi Gautam.