Police Complaint Filed Against Non-Hindu IRS Officer For Entering Jagannath Temple In Puri

Puri: The entry of a non-Hindu IRS officer inside Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri took a new turn on Friday with Shree Jagannath Sena filing a complaint with police in this regard.

Speaking to media persons in Puri, Sena convenor Priyadarshan Patnaik said the IRS officer, Reshma Lakhani, a Muslim, had visited Puri and gone inside the Jagannath temple on January 24.

“When Lakhani wanted to go into the temple, she was stopped by Roshani Yadav, another official accompanying her. Roshani pointed out the notice board in front of the temple and tried to dissuade her from going inside as entry of non-Hindus is strictly enforced here. The police personnel present at the Singhadwar (Lions’ Gate) also tried to stop Lakhani from entering. But the officer did not listen to anybody and went inside,” said Patnaik.

He further said one can understand if an ignorant person commits a mistake of ignoring the centuries-old tradition of the temple. But if an educated and aware officer of Indian service deliberately violates the sensitive religious practices, it cannot be tolerated.

“We perceive it as a conscious effort on the part of Lakhani to create communal tension in the Pilgrim Town of Odisha. We have respect for all religions and there has never been communal tension in the town. The Hindus and Muslims have been living amicably and peacefully for centuries,” Patnaik said.

“Since the IRS officer consciously broke the rule and her action amounts to creating communal tension in the town, we have filed a complaint at Sindghadwar police station seeking her arrest,” he said.

On contacted the IIC of the police station that they had received the complaint and would take necessary action after investigation.