In yet another disturbing incident targeting a place of worship, unidentified miscreants have looted cash from a donation box inside the revered shrine of Hazrat Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) at Khanyar in Srinagar. The shrine, managed by the Jammu and Kashmir Wakaf Board, has been a prominent spiritual site attracting devotees from across the Valley.
Sajad-e-Nisheen of the shrine, Khalid Jeelani, confirmed the theft while speaking to Kashmir News Trust, stating that one of the donation boxes was found broken and looted. While he refrained from disclosing the exact amount stolen, he acknowledged that the incident has deeply upset the shrine management and the devotees.
“We noticed the damage early in the morning. The donation box had been forcefully broken open, and the cash inside was missing,” Jeelani said.
The police have taken cognizance of the theft and initiated an investigation. An official said that efforts are underway to identify the culprits using CCTV footage and other technical means. “A case has been registered and strict action will be taken against those involved,” the police assured, adding that the culprits will be booked under relevant sections of law.
Notably, yesterday, cash from the donation box at a Kulgam shrine had been looted possibly by some drug addicts. [KNT]