After acting tough against the mujavirs at the Sufi shrines in Charari Sharief and Pakherpora in central Kashmir, the Waqf Board on Friday expanded the drive to other Kashmir shrine.
According to reports, the Waqf Board authorities on Friday removed more than 100 mujavirs, dozens of donation boxes and other related items which have been set up at shrine in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir since decades.
Following the directions by the Waqf Board chairperson Dr Darakshan Andrabi regarding ban on unethical practices at the shrines, the Waqf Board officials removed dozens of Muajvirs from the shrines where they had occupied permanent spots for decades.
Officials had to face resistance and difficulties in removing these Mujavirs from the shrines as they had occupied the spots a few decades ago. “It was an uphill task but with the support of locals, we successfully managed the task and all the Mujavirs were removed from the major shrines in Srinagar, including at Dastgeer Sahab shrine,” they said
The Waqf administrators with the staff removed 35 Mujavirs from Dastgeer Sahab shrine, Khanyar, and 52 Mujavirs from Makhdoom Sahab shrine while 15 persons were removed from Khanqah-e-Moula shrine.
The Waqf officials said that 36 Mujavirs were removed from Ashmuqam Pahalgam shrine while 20 were removed from Chrar-e-Shareef and eight from Khawaja Naqshband Sahib Shrine in Khawaja Bazar.
The donation boxes installed by these Mujavirs were also sealed and taken into custody, officials said, adding that at some shrines, there were Shama Daan in which people used to donate money, which were also removed.
“The Mujavirs at some shrines falling under the jurisdiction of Waqf have been given a day or two to vacate the spot,” the officials said, adding that there are strict directions from the higher ups in this regard after complaints were received against these Muajvirs that they are involved in seeking donations forcefully from the devotees.