A woman pilgrim was arrested after a pistol was recovered from her possession at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, said officials on Tuesday.
The officials said that Jyoti Gupta, claiming to be a retired police constable, belonging to Delhi was arrested after a pistol and six rounds of ammunition were recovered from her at a checking point on the night between March 14 and 15.
“The licence of the weapon had expired a few years back. An investigation has been started in the incident," the officials said.
J&K’s most revered Hindu shrine, the Mata Vaishno Devi temple is located atop the Trikuta Hills in Reasi district at an altitude of 1500 metres.
The cave temple is visited each year by around one crore devotees. The offerings made by the devotees in terms of cash and precious metals run into multiples of crores of rupees each year.
The temple is managed by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), which is headed by J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha.
The Vaishno Devi temple was in existence by 1846 when Maharaja Gulab Singh established the Dharmarth Trust to manage several temples in his territory.
Vaishno Devi temple was part of this trust. The trust remained in the hands of Gulab Singh's descendants after Independence and his descendant Karan Singh was responsible for administering the temple as the hereditary trustee until 1986.
The then J&K Governor Jagmohan passed legislation transferring the control of the Vaishno Devi temple from the Dharmarth Trust and the hereditary priests to a separate Shrine Board.
Vaishno Devi is identified with the power of Vishnu as well as the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. Many religious historians identify Vaishno Devi with the great Goddess Mahadevi and say Vaishno Devi contains all powers and is associated with the entire creation as Mahadevi.
Pilgrims also identify Vaishno Devi with Durga (a form of Lakshmi), many devotees also name the deity as Seranwali, ‘the lion rider’.
Vaishno Devi is said to be the future bliss of Kalki, who will be born as Rama's wife of Kalki. The temple is sacred to both Hindus and Sikhs. Many prominent saints such as Swami Vivekananda have visited the temple.
Communal violence perpetrators in Murshidabad mainly outsiders, says Trinamool MP
After the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were deployed in the district on Saturday night -- with a concentration on the nine most troubled pockets -- the members of the families affected by the violence have started coming out and narrating their horrific experiences during the last few days.
Murshidabad violence: Hindus fleeing in boats, take shelter in school; Suvendu Adhikari posts videos
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, in a post on his X handle, said that more than 400 Hindus have been forced to flee from Dhulian, Murshidabad, cross a river and take shelter in school.
Experts stress need for sustained talks between India, B’desh to reinforce mutual trust
Amid emerging regional challenges and controversial remarks from Bangladesh's interim government leadership and others, experts on South Asian affairs have emphasised the need for continued dialogue and cooperation between India and the neighbouring country to strengthen mutual trust and ensure long-term regional stability.
Assam Rifles, DRI seize drugs worth Rs 6 crore in Tripura, two held
The Assam Rifles in a joint operation with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), on Saturday, recovered 60,000 highly addictive methamphetamine tablets valued at more than Rs 6 crore, defence sources said.
State reels under tragedy as 3 bodies recovered in 24 Hours
In a grim turn of events, Tripura witnessed a series of tragedies within a span of 24 hours, as three separate deaths—a suspected murder, a possible drug overdose, and a suicide—have cast a pall over the state.
High-Ranking Police Officer's escort vehicle hits family in Udaipur
A serious road accident involving a high-ranking police officer’s escort vehicle left a young couple and their child critically injured on Saturday. The incident took place on the Agartala-Sabroom National Highway in the Chhanban Housing Board area of Udaipur.
Seven cops injured during anti-Waqf Act rally in Tripura
At least seven policemen sustained injuries on Saturday during a clash between the security personnel and the agitators who held a protest rally against the recently enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act in northern Tripura’s Kailashahar under Unakoti district.
Rose Valley Ponzi scam: Centre hands over Rs 515 crore to help 7.5 lakh victims
The government on Saturday handed over Rs 515.31 crore to Justice D.K. Seth (Retd), Chairman of the Asset Disposal Committee which was formed for the purpose of restitution of properties to legitimate investors in the Rose Valley Ponzi scam.