Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered an FIR in connection with the vandalism of the Ashoka emblem engraved on a foundation stone inside the revered Hazratbal Shrine. The incident, which occurred on Friday, triggered widespread outrage and strong political and public reactions. Reliable sources confirmed that an FIR No. 76 of 2025 has been lodged at Police Station Nigeen under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). A police team has already begun its investigation, including identifying individuals seen in the viral video that captured the moment of the emblem’s destruction.
According to eyewitnesses, a group of locals stormed the inner premises of the shrine and broke the stone slab bearing the national emblem, claiming it was inappropriate to install such a symbol in a place of religious significance. The emblem was part of a recent renovation project initiated by the Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board, which has been overseeing infrastructural and aesthetic upgrades at various shrines. In response, Waqf Board Chairperson Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi held an urgent press conference within the shrine compound, calling the act “a direct insult to national integrity and religious sanctity.” She alleged that certain political workers and their supporters were behind the incident, accusing them of instigating the public to trigger chaos. “This wasn’t just vandalism it was an attempt to provoke and polarize. I appeal to PM Modi, HM Amit Shah, and the police to take strict action. FIRs must be filed not only against those in the video but also against those who incited this, including the MLA who added fuel through social media,” she said. Security has been beefed up at Hazratbal, with additional police deployed to prevent further escalation. Drone surveillance and CCTV footage are being used to identify all individuals involved.
Statements are being recorded from shrine staff, local residents, and security personnel on duty at the time of the incident.
