Jalpaiguri: A devastating fire reduced to ashes a 300-year-old Bhabani Pathak temple at Sikarpur in the district last night.Since the temple is situated at a remote area, fire brigade personnel couldn't reach in time.The temple was completely reduced to ashes before the arrival of fire tenders even as the locals tried their best to douse the flames.State Tourism Minister Goutam Deb, District Magistrate Rachna Bhagat, DIG Rajesh Yadav viited the site.
The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained. Locals said the fire might have been caused by the flame of the lamp.The temple, situated in Bodaganj forest near Sikarpur at Belakoba, is in common parlance that during the British period the Sanyasis who were famous as “swadesi dacoit” in North Bengal had links with the zaminders of Baikunthopur. Bhabani Pathak was the leader of the Sanyasi Movement. It is also a hearsay that Devi Choudhurani took her lessons from Bhabani Pathak. Inspite of being a dacoit, Bhabani Pathak enjoyed a lot of following among the downtrodden of the society and was quite acceptable to them. (UNI)
