Jammu, Dec 16: A 150-year-old Mahal built by the Dogra kings in Jammu and Kashmir has suffered damage after a property dealer razed a portion of the monument, a top police official said today.
 Set in a mango orchard in Hazuribagh area in Jammu city, the 'Gole Mahal' was allegedly vandalised last night by the property dealer and his labourers after they bulldozed the front portion of the monument and axed several trees.
 "Police immediately reached the spot and stopped the destruction work...All machines were also seized," SSP Jammu Vijay Singh Samyal said.
 Infuriated over the incident, Kartar Chand, whose family has been looking after Gole Mahal for several years, appealed to the state government to declare the monument a protected site.
 "It is a sad act that this Dogra monument of Maharaja Pratap Singh and Maharaj Hari Singhas has been damaged like this by them (property dealers). The monument needs to be protected," he said.
 A three member panel, headed by the then Additional Deputy Commissioner Rehana Batool, recommended in 2011 that the monument be declared protected site.
 However, not much has been done in this regard.
 Former Chief Minister and NC founder late Sheikh Abdullah and several other leaders were kept in detention in Gole Mahal during the Emergency. 

Lastupdate on : Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 16 Dec 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:00:00 IST