Famous shrine of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas, popularly known as Baba Chamliyal, has once again fallen victim to the ongoing border tension between the two neighboring countries -India and Pakistan.
In view of the prevailing security situation and growing 'mistrust' between the border guards, the district administration in Samba has decided against organising annual fair at the shrine located metres away from the International border.
At the peak of hostilities during Kargil war the annual fair was not organised in 1999.
Additional Deputy Commissioner, Samba Tilak Raj Sharma Friday told reporters, in view of prevailing security situation along the International border it is not advisable to endanger lives of thousands of devotees who throng the shrine every last Thursday of June". This year the annual fair was due on June 28.
Sharma said we had requested BSF to give their assessment report in the wake of selective targeting of BSF soldiers in the same area.
Four BSF personnel including an Assistant commandant were martyred in cross border firing in the same area on June 12-13.
According to ADC, Samba BSF submitted in its report that tension is prevailing along the International border hence it is not advisable to hold annual fair and endanger lives of devotees".
Every year large number of devotees converge at the shrine to find cure for their chronic skin ailments as well as per the popular legend.
After performing the rituals in their own land the men in uniform from both the countries gather at the zero line along the International border in Ramgarh sector and exchange holy cloth with trolleys of shakkar-sharbat.
The original shrine of Baba Chamliyal is located inside the Indian territory in village chamliyal and its replica is built by devotees of Baba Chamiyal in village Saidawali in Pakistan after they were disallowed to enter Indian territory following 1971 war.
Both the shrines are separated by imaginary line of border but devotion and sentiments of Baba chamliyal’s worshippers are similar on both sides of the border.
As per the legend the original shrine is over 300 years old and was built by devotees of Baba chamliyal after his supreme sacrifice. The shrine remained nondescript till BSF men occupied the area and renovated the place.
For past several years the Pakistani rangers have not been visiting the shrine located inside the Indian territory in village chamliyal but they hand over holy cloth,’ chaddar’ to the BSF authorities at the zero line to be placed inside the sanctum sanctorum.In return the BSF men hand over Shakkar-Sharbat(mud and holy water of the well) in tractor trolleys for distribution among devotees in Pakistan.