Assault On Devotee: Bhitara Katha Of Jagannath Temple To Remain Under CCTV Scanner

Puri: In the wake of the alleged assault on a devotee from Maharashtra by some sevayats near Bhitara Katha of Jagannath temple, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has decided to keep tabs on the activities of the devotees and the sevayats during the darshan of the Lords.

Talking to mediapersons on Tuesday, Niti Prasasak of the temple, Pradip Das said the incident of alleged assault of a devotee by some sevayats has been seriously taken by the temple administration.

“To ensure that no such untoward incident takes place again, the temple administration has decided to install CCTV near Bhitara Katha inside the main temple to keep a watch on the devotees and the sevayats during darshan of the Lords,” he said.

He, however, said the CCTV will be shut down during the rituals of the Lords. After the rituals are completed, it will be switched on.

It may be mentioned that a devotee was allegedly assaulted by some servitors inside Jagannath Temple on May 20.

As per the complaint lodged by the victim Chetan G Amolkar from Thane of Maharashtra, with the Simhadwara Police, his family had gone to the temple for the darshan of the Lords when a group of servitors demanded excess money towards ‘dakshina’. When he refused to pay the amount, the servitors allegedly thrashed him and snatched away his gold chain. Chetan sustained injuries on his right hand. Although he managed to get back his gold chain back, one of the servitors took away the pendant attached to it.

The victim had also alleged that the servitors manhandled his wife.

Meanwhile, Chhatisha Nijog (Body of servitors) on Monday suspended two sevayats, Somanath Mekap and Madan Khuntia, for assaulting Chetan and manhandling his wife. Besides, the temple administration has relieved these two sevayats of their duty for an indefinite period.

The decision to this effect was taken by the Chhatisha Nijog and the temple administration at a meeting in the evening.