Puri Bandh: Police Resort To Lathi-Charge, Fire Rubber Bullets

Puri: Police on Wednesday resorted to lathi-charge and fired rubber bullets to disperse the unruly mob during the 12-hour dawn-to-dusk bandh here.

The Jagannath Sena had given the bandh call in protest against the decision of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to implement ‘dhadi darshan’ (queue system) for the devotees.

Police forces were deployed at the Bada Danda to maintain law and order. However, the situation went out of control and police had to fired tear gas near Simhadwara. They later resorted to lathi charge and fired rubber bullets in which several people were injured.

Mediapersons too had to bear the brunt of the attack and were left with damaged cameras and mobile phones.

Policemen even barged into the temple wearing shoes and with guns.

Following the incident, Director General of Police (DGP) R P Sharma had a meeting with the IG (Central Range) and the IG (Headquarters).

Informing the media, the DGP said police are keeping a close watch on the incident. “Efforts are on to restore normalcy in the Pilgrim Town,” he told the media.

He further said that the police, led by IG (Central Range) Soumendra Priyadarshi, also conducted a flag march from Town Police Station to the Simhadwara of the temple.

Talking to mediapersons on his arrival in Puri, Priyadarshi said the district collector will have a meeting with the leaders and activists of the Jagannath Sena to resolve the issue. Besides, the SJTA chief administrator will also attend the meeting to resolve the issue at the earliest.

He also requested the people not to indulge in violent activities.

“On behalf of the media, I request the peace-loving people of Puri to refrain from violence and restore normalcy,” he added.

Puri collector Jyoti Prakash Das said some anti-socials had perpetrated violence. He, however, made it clear that no prohibitory order under Section 144 has been clamped in any parts of the city.

Asked about the ‘dhadi darshan’, he said the district and the temple administration will review the system to ensure that people have smooth darshan of the Lords.

Earlier in the day, the irate mob barged into Jagannath Temple, uprooted the barricades erected at Baisi Pahacha and ransacked the SJTA office.

The rampaging mob set afire a temporary shed near the Simhadwara Police Station. Later, they went to the house of the Puri MLA and minister Maheswar Mohanty and ransacked the household articles. Besides, they also pelted the SP office with stones and damaged the traffic outpost at the Market Square.