Three Bavkhaleshwar temples razed after Supreme Court order

NAVI MUMBAI: After the Supreme Court (SC) dismissed several petitions to save three temples in Pawane, Navi Mumbai from being demolished, the structures were finally razed on Tuesday under strict police protection.

In 2013, the Bombay high court (HC) had issued orders that the land on which Bavkhaleshwar temples were built be taken over by MIDC. The temple trust appealed to SC against the order. In May 2017, SC dismissed the appeal. On Monday, the HC dismissed another petition to stall the demolition of Bavkhaleshwar temples. The encroachments are spread over 33 acres on MIDC land.

Bavkhaleshwar temple was built in 2007 and the other two temples were built in 2012.

Police prepared well in advance to start the demolition process and cordoned off the temple area on Tuesday. S Patil, assistant commissioner of police (traffic), said, “We deployed 75 police personnel and four senior officers at the site. Extra manpower was deployed at nearby junctions of Thane-belapur road and Sion-panvel highway.”

Heavy police deployment was in place around the temple since Monday evening and no one was allowed around nearby. None of the police personnel were allowed to use their mobile phones during the demolition.

Social activist Sandeep Thakur, who had filed the petition against the demolition, said, “I was provided police protection today which gave me an inkling of the action.”

MIDC officials were unavailable for comment.