TV
In a major crackdown on fraudulent activities targeting devotees of the Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri police, on Monday, arrested 12 persons impersonating as sevayats and extorting money from visitors. The arrests were made in a coordinated raid by the Singhadwar and Town police stations following credible intelligence from a reliable source.
Police said the suspects were part of an organised group of local antisocial elements, who regularly assembled at Bada Danda and along the Parikrama path, dressed in traditional attire resembling that of temple servitors.
Tip-Off Leads To Arrests
Police sources stated that they acted on a tip-off, which highlighted that the group mainly targeted non-Odia pilgrims and tourists arriving for darshan. The group allegedly offered guidance and free access to the temple in exchange for money, and when refused, resorted to threats, verbal abuse, and even physical intimidation.
According to officials, the Puri Superintendent of Police formed a dedicated surveillance team after receiving reports of illegal collections and harassment.
For two days, the team closely monitored the suspects’ movements and interactions with devotees before launching simultaneous raids. The arrests were carried out without incident, and all accused were taken into custody and later forwarded to court.
