Kanpur: The Kanpur Juna Akhara has demanded the central government to install statues of the Hindus killed in Pahalgam at the site of the terrorist attack and organise annual Hindu religious programmes there.
A peace yagna was organised by the Juna Akhara at Kanpur’s famous Anandeshwar Temple. Juna Akhada is one of the largest and oldest Hindu monastic orders, known for its Naga Sadhus.
Shubham Dwivedi, a 31-year-old cement trader from Kanpur, was among those who died in the Pahalgam terror attack. Union minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti met the victim’s father at the family’s residence today.
“A letter has been sent to the central government demanding that the statue of the martyred Hindu brothers be installed at the place where Hindus were killed in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir,” said Ashutosh Kumar Gupta, Juna Akhara media in-charge.
The Shanti Yagna was attended by many, with some raising slogans like ‘Pakistan Murdabad’ at the temple premises.
Mahant Arun Bharti of the Anandeshwar Temple said all Hindus will have to take a pledge to stay united and strong. “The killing of people from other states in Jammu and Kashmir by terrorists is a conspiracy. These cowardly acts are done by terrorists so that people from other states are not able to reside and do business in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Bharti asked all the traders to turn to Jammu and Kashmir for business. He said the terrorists’ objective was fulfilled with the “help of Jaichands of our own Kashmir”.
“Those who support the terrorists will have to be given a befitting reply”.
Also read: How is Pahalgam victim Vinay Narwal’s family dealing with social media attention?
Heavy police presence
Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22. Following this, India has imposed many sanctions on Pakistan. Meanwhile, people in many parts of the country are condemning the attack by taking out candle marches and demanding strict action against the perpetrators.
However, Muslims are also being targeted in many parts of the country.
On the occasion of Juma prayers, heavy police force was deployed outside mosques in Kanpur, while there was high alert in many Muslim areas, including Naugawan village and Sarsaul town. The Friday prayers were held amid tight security in the Thana Maharajpur area.
At the 200-year-old Jama Masjid in Patkapur, people protested against the Pahalgam attack after prayers, holding posters that read “aatankwad ke khilaf hum sab ek hain (we are all united against terrorism)”.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)