A day after around 80 wood-fired stoves also called ‘chulahs’ inside the Puri Jagannath temple were found vandalised, the administration on Monday registered a formal complaint in connection with the incident at Singhadwar police station, informed Puri Collector Samarth Verma on Monday.
“An internal probe has been launched and we have also registered a case in connection with the incident,” said Verma.
According to the Collector, a crucial meeting with all the stakeholders was conducted to ensure all the rituals and other traditions are conducted without any hassles in the wake of the controversy. However, the Collector refused to comment on whether the officials have ascertained who was involved in damaging the chulhas.
“It will not be appropriate to comment on the incident now as an internal inquiry is on. The footage of CCTVs inside the temple is also being examined,” Verma added.
It is pertinent to mention here that ‘unidentified miscreants’ had reportedly vandalised around 80 chulhas (ovens) that are used to cook Mahaprasad and different types of bhoga for Lord Jagannath and his sibling deities.
As per official records, there are around 240 registered ovens in the kitchen of the Puri Jagannath temple. Reports said said the pithagada, Kothabhoga, Satapuri and Thaliada chulhas were allegedly ransacked which has sparked widespread resentment among the devotees.
It is suspected that the chulhas were defaced after the Badasinghara bhog was prepared at the Rosa Ghara (temple kitchen) on Saturday night.