Police Personnel Injured In Attack By Bengali Devotees At Puri Jagannath Temple

Puri: A police personnel of Shree Jagannath temple sustained injuries after being allegedly thrashed by some Bengali devotees inside the shrine complex on Saturday.

As per information, an argument took place between a group of Bengali devotees and the Jagannath Temple Police (JTP) personnel over some issue.

The verbal duel took an ugly turn and both sides reportedly got engaged in a scuffle. In the process, the police personnel, identified as Gupteswar Routray, sustained injuries.

Following the incident, both sides lodged separate written complaints against each other at Singhadwara Police Station.

According to Routray, he was in charge of arrangements for smooth and disciplined darshan of the Habishyalis at the bell gate (Ghanti dwara) of the temple in the morning when some Bengali devotees tried to enter through the exit gate. As he stopped them, the devotees did not heed and attacked him for which he got injured.

On the other hand, the Bengali devotees claimed that they were trapped in the crowd near the Ghanti dwara and the police personnel misbehaved with a woman member of the group.

The police are questioning both the sides and further investigation is underway.