[Watch] ‘Habishyali’ Injured After Being Thrashed By Police In Puri Jagannath Temple

Puri: An elderly woman devotee sustained injuries after she was allegedly thrashed by a policeman inside Shree Jagannath temple in Odisha’s Puri on Monday.

According to sources, the incident happened near the Jagmohan on the premises of the 12th-century shrine when the habishyali was waiting for darshan of the deities in the holy month of Kartika.

It was alleged that the woman was injured after being hit with a stick by the policeman.

Police personnel in strength have been deployed in the temple in view of the heavy rush of devotees to witness ‘Laxmi Nrusimha Besha’ of the deities on the concluding day of ‘Panchuka’. The temple will remain closed for devotees on Tuesday due to the lunar eclipse, sources said.

Soon after the incident, the accused policeman, identified as Havildar Prashant Dalai, was placed under suspension, sources said.

Puri Superintendent of Police Kanwar Vishal Singh said a thorough probe will be conducted to ascertain the circumstances that led to the incident.

The injured devotee was immediately rushed to the hospital and her condition is stated to be stable.