In Odisha’s Puri, Rivalry Among Servitors Triggers Another Murder; Love Affair Suspected

Puri: Singhadwar police detained two more persons on Wednesday in connection with the murder of a servitor near the Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri last night. The main accused, also a servitor, was apprehended soon after the incident on Tuesday night. A country-made gun was seized from him.

The deceased, 21-year-old Sibaram Patra, a servitor at the Loknath Temple, was shot dead near the site of the Emar Mutt, close to the Jagannath Temple main gate, by servitor Chandan Barik around 9 pm.

Patra, who was riding a bike, was hit in the head and chest by two bullets, according to preliminary inquiry.

Hearing gunshots, people in the area, which is usually crowded, starting running in panic. Police and locals rushed Patra to the Puri district headquarters hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. Patra was a resident of Talucha Sahi, a bylane of Harchandi Sahi.

Puri SP Kanwar Vishal Singh on Wednesday said all three accused have been detained. Personal enmity and family dispute could be the motive behind the killing, he said. According to preliminary investigation, Patra had once tried to kill Barik.

According to a report, which quoted Barik’s father, Patra was in a relationship with Barik’s sister. After this was discovered by both families four months ago, they were at loggerheads. Barik’s father alleged that Patra’s family also threatened them repeatedly over this. After Tuesday night’s murder, the entire family feared for their lives, he said.

This is the second time in recent months when a servitor was shot dead in Puri and highlights the involvement of servitors in crimes.

On March 16 this year, 44-year-old Krushna Pratihari, a servitor at the Jagannath Temple, was shot dead near the Lord Nrusinghanath Temple, not very far from the 12th century Jagannath Temple.

Pratihari was secretary of the Suara Mahasuara Nijog, a powerful committee of servitors of the Jagannath Temple. He had been acquitted by a trial court in January this year in a murder case of another servitor.

Pratihari was the prime accused in the 2012 murder case of servitor Taluchha Bhagaban Mohapatra.

In August 2007, Jagannath Temple servitor Ajaya Kumar Sarangi was shot dead over a property dispute. Seven people including servitor Madhab Khuntia, with dozens of cases against him, was arrested. In August 1996, servitor Damodar Mahasuara was almost killed in an attack by servitors, including Taluchha Mohapatra.

Three detained over stabbing

Hours after the servitor’s murder on Tuesday night, a man was stabbed by miscreants near Mausi Maa temple in Puri. The victim was identified as Surya Narayan Tripathy. His condition is stated to be critical. The Puri SP on Wednesday said three persons have been detained.