Puri: A servitor of Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri was suspended on Wednesday for alleged unruly conduct and indiscipline following an altercation inside Ratna Bhandar (treasury chamber).
Kishan Mekap, a Bhandar Mekap servitor, responsible for the treasury, has been barred from performing any seva (service) until further orders.
According to sources, Kishan got into an altercation with his nephew, Kunu Mekap, on Tuesday evening over some personal dispute in the presence of senior officials, including Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator, the District Magistrate, and members of a high-level committee overseeing the valuation and inventory process inside Ratna Bhandar. Police and administrative officers intervened to de-escalate the situation, preventing any disruption to the valuation process.
The incident highlights the SJTA’s zero-tolerance policy toward indiscipline within the premises of the 12th-century shrine. Ratna Bhandar, which houses centuries-old jewels, ornaments, and valuables offered to Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra, is a highly restricted area. Its recent reopening and ongoing inventory have been under close scrutiny.
Devotees have expressed strong disappointment and dissatisfaction over the event, with many calling for stricter long-term measures to maintain the sanctity of the temple.
