Puri: Puri Police have arrested 11 fake Gumastas (shrine agents/touts) over the last five days for allegedly extorting money from people under the pretext of arranging hassle-free special darshan of the sibling deities at Shree Jagannath Temple in the coast city of Odisha.
They allegedly targeted unsuspecting devotees, particularly those coming from outside the state, promising them quick access to the deities in exchange for sums ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 500.
Addressing the media, Puri SP Prateek Singh on Friday said that cops in plainclothes were deployed around the temple premises following complaints, who then identified the touts. “CCTV footage was also examined. While five were arrested yesterday, another three were nabbed a day before. In total, 11 fraudsters have been arrested over five days,” he said.
The SP emphasised that entry and darshan at the temple are free. “There is absolutely no fee required for darshan of Mahaprabhu. It is completely free for everyone,” he stressed, while warning of strict action against those found exploiting devotees.
Police have identified several arrested individuals, including Shankar Biswal, Aruna Patra, Babuni Mahapatra, Sarveswar Rout, Ranjit Samantaray, Bikram Pradhan, Ajay Kumar Jena, and Umakanta Padhi. A total of Rs 2,620 in cash and three mobile phones were seized from them. Two cases have also been registered at Singhadwara police station on June 18 and June 19 under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
With major upcoming rituals such as Snana Purnima and the annual Rath Yatra expected to draw millions of devotees to the pilgrim town, Puri Police have intensified surveillance to eliminate such fraudulent activities and ensure a smooth experience for all devotees.
