Source: The Hindu
SRINAGAR, INDIA, March 31, 2002: The gory incident of Saturday at Jammu’s historic Raghunath temple led to the closure of its doors for the first time in 150 years. Upset over what happened at the place of worship the head priest, Pandit V. Shastri, said, “The doors had to be closed for the first time in 150 years for devotees and the common public.” The priest was busy with the puja when he heard the gun shots. “I could not believe that the three SSB jawans posted there were dead. I had shook hands with them a few moments before,” he told this correspondent over the phone. One priest had an encounter with one of the militants who blew himself off within the compound. A large number of priests and devotees gathered at the temple to pray for peace.