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Journalism of Courage
Working at the ancient Nalhar Mahadev Temple for a year now, priest Deepak Sharma, 35, was expecting heavy crowds during the ongoing month of Saawan. But nothing prepared him for the deluge of people who took shelter on the premises to escape violence in Nuh, situated seven-kilometres away, on Tuesday.
Sharma recalled how he along with four temple workers managed to control an anxious crowd, who thought the temple will be vandalised and they could be targeted anytime.
The temple purportedly housed around 3,000 persons that day until all were rescued by police in the evening.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Sharma said, “The violence started growing and by 4 PM, our temple had at least 3,000 to 4,000 people taking shelter in the courtyard…it was very difficult to reassure them that they will be safe inside the temple as they thought some or the other miscreant might break in and start targeting them…”
Sharma along with the temple staff ensured that the people were fed throughout the day. “We began serving the bhandara since the morning…our temple can accommodate 9,000 people and we were even willing to accept more people for refuge as long as they were safe,” added the priest.
The priest said people from all age groups were taking refuge at the temple even as policemen were holding guard outside. “All of them were scared and anxious as intense stone- pelting and vandalism was happening a few kilometres away…we kept telling people that nothing will happen to them as long as they are inside the temple …all of them were eventually rescued by 6 pm Tuesday,” said Sharma.
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