A controversy has erupted in Pakistan’s Punjab province over the collapse of a Hindu temple believed to be more than a century old.

The temple, located in Siraj village in Narowal district, was reportedly demolished on August 21, according to local residents and minority organisations.

Temple Was 100 to 125 Years Old

The temple occupied around 1,000 square metres of land and was estimated to be between 100 and 125 years old.

Rana Iftikhar, a senior official with the Evacuee Trust Property Board, confirmed that the structure was very old, although the temple did not have a specific name recorded in official records.

Allegations of Demolition for Madrassa Expansion

The Pakistan Masih Millat Party, local residents and Hindu community representatives have alleged that the temple was deliberately demolished.

They claim religious extremists wanted to incorporate the temple's land into an adjoining madrassa. The alleged demolishers were identified by some local groups as members of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan.

Officials Blame Torrential Rain

Pakistani officials have rejected the allegations of deliberate demolition.

Rana Iftikhar said the temple collapsed because of torrential rains. He also stated that the temple's own land had not been leased to anyone.

According to him, only the land adjacent to the temple had been leased for use by a seminary.

Allegations That Temple Material Was Removed

Aslam Parvez Sahotra, chairman of the Pakistan Masih Millat Party, submitted a written complaint to Punjab's additional home secretary seeking action over the incident.

Sahotra alleged that metal fittings from the temple's shikhar and bricks had been removed from the site. He called for action against those responsible and demanded that the temple be reconstructed.

Hindu Community Seeks Restoration

Hindu community leader Rattan Lal condemned the incident and called for the restoration of the temple.

He accused the district administration and the Evacuee Trust Property Board of failing to adequately protect the site or remove alleged occupants.

Lal also said members of the Hindu community were afraid to visit the location because a madrassa continues to operate on the premises.

Officials Say Temple Land Was Not Leased

Authorities have specifically denied that the temple's land was leased to the madrassa.

Rana Iftikhar said the adjoining land had been leased for a seminary, but the temple's own land had not been leased.

He added that senior officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board would decide whether the temple should be restored.

Questions Over Protection of Minority Religious Sites

The incident has raised fresh questions over the protection of minority religious sites in Pakistan.

Minority representatives say the temple was deliberately destroyed, while government officials maintain that the structure collapsed because of natural causes.

The conflicting accounts have created calls for a proper investigation to establish what happened at the site.

Comes Amid Other Disputes Over Religious Sites

The latest incident comes amid renewed attention on the protection of minority religious properties in Pakistan's Punjab province.

A recent controversy over the demolition of a more than 100-year-old gurdwara in the province has also prompted criticism and calls for stronger protection of historic religious sites.

Need for Protection and Restoration

The dispute highlights the challenges surrounding the preservation of historic religious properties belonging to minority communities.

Whether the temple collapsed because of extreme weather or was deliberately demolished remains the central question. A transparent investigation and appropriate action would be important for determining responsibility and deciding the future of the site.

Conclusion

The collapse of a Hindu temple believed to be between 100 and 125 years old in Pakistan's Punjab province has triggered a dispute between minority representatives and government officials.

Hindu community leaders and minority organisations allege that the temple was deliberately demolished to facilitate the expansion of an adjoining madrassa, while Pakistani officials insist that torrential rains caused the structure to collapse.

Officials have stated that the temple's own land was not leased to the madrassa, although adjoining land had been leased for a seminary. Calls for an investigation, protection of the site and possible restoration are now at the centre of the controversy.