Historic Taragarh Hill Cleansed: A Crackdown on Encroachments

In a sweeping effort to preserve the historical and ecological integrity of Taragarh Hill in Ajmer, Rajasthan, authorities have dismantled illegal encroachments that have persisted for decades. The strategic move targeted 213 shops with 192 demolished and 21 sealed, taking place on the site known for its connection to the 12th-century ruler, Prithviraj Chauhan.

This unprecedented operation, spearheaded by Rajasthan Assembly Speaker and Ajmer North MLA Vasudev Devnani, involved over 1,700 personnel. Given the challenging terrain, manual laborers were deployed to dismantle unauthorized structures. The crackdown was a collaborative effort of the forest department, district administration, and police.

The action, encompassing 1,100 bighas of forest land, aimed to curb illegal settlements that had become hideouts for anti-national activities. Despite some legal obstacles, officials remain committed to reclaiming this culturally significant area, which has been a focal point of regional pride since the time of Chauhan.

(With inputs from agencies.)