Cops remove 'Corona Mata' temple in UP's Pratapgarh village

PRAYAGRAJ: In order to discourage prevailing superstitions among villagers about the coronavirus, a joint team of police and administration dismantled the Corona Mata temple at Juhi Shuklapur village under Sangipur police station late on Friday night.
A probe has also been ordered into the construction of Corona Mata temple.
Inspector general of police, Prayagraj range, KP Singh told TOI that the police removed Corona Mata temple from the village late on Friday night in an attempt to prevent people from indulging in superstitious activities.

He added that the police teams were also making efforts to create awareness among people about the deadly coronavirus and reiterate the fact that no religious activity would be of any help in fighting the virus.
The IG also said that the police administration ordered a probe into the issue after a man from the village, Nagesh Kumar Srivastava, had submitted an application to Sangipur police station, claiming that his brother Lokesh Kumar, who arrived from Ghaziabad a few days back, had set up an open Corona Mata temple without consulting his family members. Lokesh went back to Ghaziabad after the construction of the temple, Nagesh said.
Police said that Corona Mata temple had come up at Shuklapur village in Pratapgarh district three days ago. Hundreds of villagers had started offering prayers at the temple, anticipating that Goddess Corona would ward off the deadly virus. The temple was, in fact, built by a group of villagers after collection of donations. The villagers believed that the “shadow of Covid-19 would never befall on Shuklapur and adjoining villages” owing to the blessings of Corona Mata.
The villagers also highlighted the importance of Covid protocol such as use of masks and adherence to social distancing while offering prayers at the temple. The idol also wore a mask.
After the temple was removed by the police administration, the villagers were silent and refused to speak over the issue.