At a time when Narendra Modi-led fascist Indian government is hell bent upon snatching the identity of Muslims in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Muslim villagers living along the Line of Control (LoC) in Teethwal area of Kupwara district, in an act of promoting religious harmony, have handed over the land of Sharda Peeth base camp to Hindus after 75 years.
Lumberdar of Teetwal village, Zameer Ahmad, said prior to 1947, a small Gurudwara and Dharamshala existed at the LoC which served as a base camp for Sharda yatris.
“We have heard from our forefathers that Teethwal happened to be the business center before the partition and Sikhs had big business here. The Muslims and Hindus would live like brothers but unfortunately the partition influenced the communities,” he said.
Abdul Satar, a local resident, said the base camp was lying deserted since 1947 and the Muslims looked after it as they believe it was not a piece of land but a trust of Hindu community and they kept it alive.
In September 2021, when Hindus came for annual pilgrimage, the land was handed over to them after more than seventy years.—KMS
