Jaunpur: College principal, guard held for ‘preventing’ plantation, worship of tree

Another FIR was registered by Jeevan Yadav against the priest of the site, where the tree is worshipped, Kanhaiya Lal Sharma, and nearly 150 unidentified persons. No arrests have been made in this case.

Meanwhile, BJP MP from Jaunpur Dr K P Singh and local party leaders demanded that worship at the said site be allowed and that those against it be arrested.

Deputy Inspector General (Varanasi Range) S K Bhagat, who visited the spot, said over the phone: “An old neem tree, located close to the college, was being worshipped for the past several years. However, it fell some time ago and a fresh neem sapling was planted at the spot, which had come to be known as ‘Chaura Mata ka sthan’. That sapling went missing and when the priest and other women were planting another sapling again, the row erupted.”

Bhagat added there had been no history of tension over the particular spot. “The principal of the college went there and was involved in an argument and scuffle. Instructions have been issued to district officials to take take every necessary action to prevent a flare-up. The situation is calm now,” he said.

The BJP MP said: The priest and locals wanted to plant a tree on the spot that has come to be known as Chaura Mata ka Sthan. This was objected by the college principal. We staged a protest and demanded action. The tree has been planted.”

Sources said besides the MP, several other local leaders from the right wing Hindu groups, are fanning the incident. Some of the local markets were closed down by noon and heavy police deployment was made .

Meanwhile, a section of district court lawyers  went on strike Saturday condemning the incident. Diwani Bar Association general secretary Jai Prakash Singh said: “It was a minor issue that snowballed into a big controversy. We passed a resolution condemning it. Jaunpur has been a peaceful city.”