HANDWARA, Nov 16: Authorities have successfully restored a piece of temple land in Handwara that had been encroached upon for nearly 36 years. The land, which belongs to a local temple trust, had remained under illegal occupation despite several attempts over the years to reclaim it.
Officials said the retrieval process was carried out after a thorough verification of land records and consultation with the concerned departments. A coordinated effort involving the revenue authorities, police, and local administration ensured that the land was cleared without any major resistance.
Local residents and temple committee members welcomed the move, calling it a long-awaited correction and an important step towards safeguarding religious properties. They expressed gratitude to the administration for taking decisive action and urged authorities to continue identifying and restoring other encroached religious and community lands in the region.
The restored land will now be handed over to the temple management for preservation and future use. Authorities have also assured that measures will be put in place to prevent any fresh encroachment.
