Latest news with #SameerShingate
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Vishalgad Urs not held, yet 1,300 devotees went to fort for prayers at dargah
Kolhapur: Around 1,300 devotees visited Vishalgad to offer prayers at Hazrat Peer Malik Rehan's shrine on Sunday. The traditional four-day Urs, scheduled to begin on Sunday, was cancelled following restrictions by the state archaeology department. The Bakrid qurbani proceeded according to Bombay high court guidelines. While the Urs typically draws thousands of attendees, recent campaigns by right-wing organisations against encroachments have led to reduced attendance. The previous year's event was marred by violence over encroachment issues. The animal sacrifice ritual was conducted under strict protocols, requiring enclosed private premises. The area was surrounded by metal sheets to ensure compliance. Devotees from various regions queued early to climb to the fort, presenting identification such as Aadhaar cards for registration. The administration limited visits between 9am and 5pm, prohibiting overnight stays. All 1,300 registered visitors completed their darshan/prayers within the stipulated time. Sub-divisional officer Sameer Shingate, of the Pannala division, said: "Everyone left the fort before 5pm. Police bandobast and scrutiny will remain in place for three more days." Although the dargah trust officials proposed a modest Urs celebration, authorities implemented a complete prohibition. Kolhapur's superintendent of police Yogeshkumar Gupta said the administration has challenged the HC ruling permitting animal sacrifice at the fort in the Supreme Court. Right-wing groups opposed the HC decision, demanding the prohibition of both Urs and animal sacrifice at the historic 11th-century fort. These groups celebrated the administration's decision to ban the Urs as their success. Kolhapur: Around 1,300 devotees visited Vishalgad to offer prayers at Hazrat Peer Malik Rehan's shrine on Sunday. The traditional four-day Urs, scheduled to begin on Sunday, was cancelled following restrictions by the state archaeology department. The Bakrid qurbani proceeded according to Bombay high court guidelines. While the Urs typically draws thousands of attendees, recent campaigns by right-wing organisations against encroachments have led to reduced attendance. The previous year's event was marred by violence over encroachment issues. The animal sacrifice ritual was conducted under strict protocols, requiring enclosed private premises. The area was surrounded by metal sheets to ensure compliance. Devotees from various regions queued early to climb to the fort, presenting identification such as Aadhaar cards for registration. The administration limited visits between 9am and 5pm, prohibiting overnight stays. All 1,300 registered visitors completed their darshan/prayers within the stipulated time. Sub-divisional officer Sameer Shingate, of the Pannala division, said: "Everyone left the fort before 5pm. Police bandobast and scrutiny will remain in place for three more days." Although the dargah trust officials proposed a modest Urs celebration, authorities implemented a complete prohibition. Kolhapur's superintendent of police Yogeshkumar Gupta said the administration has challenged the HC ruling permitting animal sacrifice at the fort in the Supreme Court. Right-wing groups opposed the HC decision, demanding the prohibition of both Urs and animal sacrifice at the historic 11th-century fort. These groups celebrated the administration's decision to ban the Urs as their success.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Time of India
Kolhapur administration removes 11 illegal structures from Vishalgad under heavy police security
Kolhapur: The forest department and revenue department of Kolhapur removed 11 structures — seven houses and four shops — from the historic Vishalgad under heavy police security on Saturday. In July last year, the fort witnessed violence between two groups over the issue of encroachment. There were restrictions for visitors to the fort located in Panhal tehsil of Kolhapur district. The restrictions were relaxed in the last two months. The administration designated 158 structures on the fort as illegal. Last year, 94 encroachments were removed. Recently, residents removed five encroachments, and 59 encroachments are still there. The occupants of the structures had moved a petition in the Bombay High Court. "As per the state govt order, the encroachments were to be removed before May 31. There was heavy rain in the last couple of weeks, and as soon as the weather cleared, we initiated the drive to adhere to the deadline. The forest department removed 11 structures which had no legal stay of any sort from court. The residents cooperated with the teams involved in the drive," Sameer Shingate, sub-divisional officer Panhala told TOI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Experience three trade fairs with just one ticket Explore Undo automatica 2025 Explore Undo Laser World of Photonics Explore Undo World of Quantum Explore Undo Visit automatica: June 24-27, Munich Explore Undo The state govt has ordered removal of encroachments from forts before May 31 to ensure that their sanctity is maintained, and the followers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj can visit the forts without inconvenience. The forest department deployed a staff of 40, the revenue department deployed a similar number of staff, and there were 100 police officials on the ground. In total, around 250 people were involved in the drive. "We had informed the occupants of the structures in advance, on Friday, that we were going to carry out the drive. For two days, we imposed restrictions. Now, a religious event is approaching in June, for which, after consultations with the police and other departments, we will impose the required restrictions," said Shingate. The administration allowed visits to the fort between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm, beyond which no one was allowed to stay on the fort after the violence in June last year. A police chowki has been installed at the base to check the details of the visitors.
