LIVE TV
India
Photo: File Pic
Recommended Stories
The Singhadwar Police has interrogated 4 Jagannath Temple Police (JTP) personnel in connection with the desecration of the holy kitchen of Jagannath temple in Puri on Saturday. The 4 JTP have been issued a show-cause notice to immediately reply under what circumstances the serious breach of security occurred at the shrine.
One of the JTP was in charge of security for Bata Agana and Nata Mandapa. On the other hand, the three other cops who had reportedly spotted and then released one suspect involved in the vandalism at around 2 am late on Saturday night are being questioned over the incident. All the four were on duty from 10 pm on Saturday night till the morning of Sunday.
The police have also reportedly questioned several servitors who were on duty till the Sandhya Dhupa rituals at the temple on the day of the incident.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday directed Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra and DGP SK Bansal to take stock of the investigation into the desecration of the holy kitchen of Jagannath temple in Puri.
More than 40 'chulhas' or ovens were found vandalised at the holy kitchen also called (Rosha Ghara) on Saturday night, leading to a delay in the rituals of the trinity -- Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath, and a scarcity of holy food the 'Mahaprasad' for devotees.
Chief Secretary and the DGP both visited the 12th-century shrine later on Monday evening under the direction of CM Naveen to inspect the situation.
The Chief Secretary said that one person was seen on the CCTV footage of the vandalism. Stating that he will be nabbed soon, Mohapatra said appropriate steps will be taken to ensure that such an incident does not happen again.
He, however, ruled out that the incident was a result of differences between 'Suara Mahasuara Nijog' and the 'Suara Nijog' -- the two groups of servitors engaged in the holy kitchen.
DGP Bansal said that a case has been lodged and those behind the incident would be arrested soon. Investigation is underway to ascertain the motive of the vandalism, he said.
The number of security personnel at the temple will be increased and high-resolution cameras will be installed at the sensitive points in the shrine, he added.
Police said that a five-member team has been formed to investigate the matter.
The incident led to a furore across the State and caused disappointment to crores of Jagannath devotees across the world. The unfolding of the serious controversy comes at a time when Odisha government is already caught under backlash from the Opposition parties over digging works near the temple as part of the heritage corridor project construction.
As per the temple's Record of Rights, there are around 240 registered ovens in the kitchen of the temple, including 40 'chulhas' used by the administration for preparing the 'Mahaprasad'.
Vandalism at the holy kitchen is a first of its kind incident in the 12th-century shrine, said researcher Prafulla Ratha.
(With Agency Inputs)
