Protests in Mandsaur after portion of ancient temple collapses

Reported damage to idols after the collapse of a platform inside the 700 hundred years old Dudhakhedi Mataji temple at Bhanpur in Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh led to public outcry and bandh today.
Shops and offices in Bhanpur and Mandsaur towns remained closed today as local organisations called for a bandh.
An angry mob torched the temple's office and a nearby police post last night after the platform inside the sanctum sanctorum collapsed and idols were reportedly damaged.
"I have suspended PWD's sub-divisional officer Kamal Jain who was overseeing the renovation, and ordered magisterial inquiry into the collapse," district collector S K Singh said.

District BJP president Devilal Dhagat expressed shock at the collapse, and said the temple is managed by government as the Collector is the president of its management committee.
"I also happen to be a member of the committee but was sidelined during the renovation work," he claimed.
Congress leader and former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh said in a release today that the collapse could be the result of irregularities and corruption in the execution of renovation work. BJP leaders were members of the management committee, he pointed out.