Lingaraj temple servitor arrested for misbehaving with female foreign national in Bhubaneswar

A servitor has been arrested on the charges of misbehaving with a lady foreign national outside Lingaraj temple’s northern gate in Bhubaneswar. The accused, Kundu Mohapatra, has been arrested under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 354 and 354 (a), Commissionerate Police said on Wednesday.

As per initial reports, the woman tourist from Sweden had come to Bhubaneswar and visited the area near Lingaraj temple. The accused took her to show the presiding deities and allegedly misbehaved with her.

It is learnt that the servitor was arrested for a similar offence in the past.

Bhubaneswar DCP, Prateek Singh informed that in her complaint, a woman tourist from Sweden alleged that a servitor had misbehaved with her when she had visited the temple on February 19, 2024.

“Subsequently, Lingaraj Police registered a case and detained the servitor after ascertaining his identity. He was later arrested and produced before the court today. The woman tourist was counselled and her statement was recorded before a Magistrate,” said Singh.

The senior cop further said that the Commissionerate Police and Lingaraj Police are on alert and prominence is given to the safety of tourists and immediate action is taken regarding any grievances.

“As the matter has come to notice, we will hold discussion with all Nijog and Servitor representatives and Temple Trust so that no such incident that brings defamation to Bhubaneswar and Shrine occurs,” Singh added.