![\"State](\"https:\/\/c.ndtvimg.com\/2024-06\/b22i775o_kedarnath-dham-hostage_625x300_19_June_24.jpg?im=FaceCrop,algorithm=dnn,width=650,height=400\"\/ "\\"State")
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New Delhi: <\/b><\/p>\n
Angry priests held a senior civil servant – Arvind Pandey, the Secretary of the State Information Commission – hostage for two-and-a-half hours in Uttarakhand’s temple town of Kedarnath, amid protests over the demolition of buildings and roadside shops owned and operated by priests.<\/p>\n
Mr Pandey was reportedly locked into a room at a committee member’s home.<\/p>\n
There is anger over what “mismanagement” of the Kedarnath Dham Yatra route and facilities for 2024, including for VIP visits and prayers, which they say has caused inconvenience to locals.<\/p>\n
In addition to demands like removing barricades from routes commonly used by non-VIP pilgrims – these were removed after lengthy talks with locals – the protestors have also alleged that houses and shops owned by over a dozen priests and traders were demolished without their consent.<\/p>\n
Some of these were torn down to build drains by the side of the road to the temple.<\/p>\n
When these demolitions were taking place Mr Pandey was an Additional Secretary in the state government. When he visited protest sites this morning, he was surrounded by angry priests.<\/p>\n
A situation that started with jostling and shoving, and shouting of slogans, quickly escalated.<\/p>\n
Mr Pandey was urged to show a letter from the government authorising the demolitions.<\/p>\n
On being told what was happening, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Ukhimath, which is about 50 km from Kedarnath, rushed to the spot and calmed the angry priests and traders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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