Amid Indo-Pak Crossfire, He Risked It All to Rebuild a Temple & Restore Faith in Humanity
Suhail Khan
Uri, May 30: Earlier this month, when the border town of Uri was severely hit by Pakistani shelling—which claimed the lives of innocent civilians, damaged residential houses, and destroyed a temple—Amanjeet Singh, a young Sikh leader, rose to the occasion. Not only did he provide aid to shelling-affected families, but he also stepped forward to help restore the damaged temple.
The ancient Pandoo Mandir in Laghama, Uri, was damaged in the Pakistani shelling on May 7. Determined to ensure devotees would not be deprived of their sacred place, Amanjeet Singh traveled all the way from Baramulla town to oversee the temple’s repairs.
Speaking exclusively to Kashmir Despatch, Amanjeet Singh said, “Even though I belong to a different religion, respect and regard for all faiths must always remain. When I learned about the damage to this temple, I couldn’t sleep the entire night and immediately came to assess the destruction caused by the Pakistani shelling.”
He condemned the targeting of religious sites, stating, Pakistan, by attacking places of worship, reveals its own desperation. Peace will always prevail over such divisive acts.
He added, For me, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a temple, a mosque, or a Gurudwara. What matters is respecting all places of worship where people come to pray. It is everyone’s duty to ensure the safety of these sacred sites.
After all, he said, religion does not teach us to harbor hatred. We must respect every faith and its holy places.
Amanjeet shared that the temple has now been restored. Seeing the smile on the face of the head priest, Baba Subhash Naik, filled him with deep inner satisfaction.
Pertinently, the Pandu Mandir is believed to date back to ancient times, with its origins deeply rooted in Hindu mythology. According to legend, the temple is named after Pandu, the father of the Pandavas. It is said that Pandu, after being cursed, spent his last years in the region, and the temple was erected in his honor.
The recent escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan cast a dark shadow over Jammu and Kashmir, plunging the region into fear and uncertainty. Artillery exchanges and missile strikes claimed more than 30 lives, including two children. However, after the two nuclear nations agreed to a ceasefire, life has returned to normal—though fear still lingers among residents, especially those living along the Line of Control.
Suhail Khan is a filmmaker, content writer, and freelance journalist.
