REASI: Acting on some complaints, officials of District administration on Wednesday raided the area adjoining religious site Devi Pindi shrine at Panthal and evicted the people who had gone there for excursion.Announcing complete ban on the Devi Pindi route except pilgrimage, the District administration used Drone cameras to identified those on pleasure trip and evicted them from the site with the help of Police and CRPF personnel.Pertinent to mention here that few days back, a video went viral on social media in which some youths were found consuming alcohol and beer etc during picnic on Devi Pindi route thus hurting religious sentiments of the people.Taking cognizance of such activities and on demand of locals, the district administration today launched a massive action against the tourists creating nuisance at the religious site. Police has also installed a post on the route.DDC Member Rajinder Mengi, Tehsildar Katra Anil Charak, Naib Tehsildar Kamal Kishore Verma, SDPO Kuljit Singh, SHO Sunil Sharma, Sarpanch Kunia Rajendra Thappa along with other administrative and police officers visited Devi Pindi route and sent back the visiting tourists. Besides, a fine of Rs 9000 was also realized from 200 people for alleged violation of Covid SOPs.Devi Pindi is termed as a ‘clone’ to the original Vaishno Devi shrine. There are three ‘pindian’ or three naturally existing bulges in the mountain, represents the goddess.
