Brutal attack on Puri Srimandir supervisor:  CCTV footage goes viral; efforts on to crack case, says police

Two days after the attempt to murder Puri Srimandir supervisor Buxi Ramachandra Pratihari, CCTV footage of the entire incident has gone viral. Shockingly, the video shows other devotees standing as mute spectators even as the attacker tries to hack Buxi to death with a sharp-edged weapon.

According to sources, the incident occurred on Friday. The temple supervisor Baxi Ramachandra Pratihari had recently ousted several non-servitors selling Rabidi (condensed milk) in the Anand Bazaar.

Aggrieved by this, a man attacked Buxi while he was taking out his two-wheeler from the West gate of the temple. The video shows the man attacking Pratihari with a sharp weapon and chasing him on the temple premises.

With the weapon in his hand, the man chases Pratihari and hacks him while other devotees watch as mute spectators. Later, the attacker walks away, leaving Pratihari injured. Later, he was immediately rushed to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital by the temple officials. 

Shockingly, the Puri police have miserably failed to apprehend the accused even as almost two days have passed since the incident.

When contacted, Sushil Mishra, Additional SP, Puri said, “An investigation into the incident. The IIC Town, Singhadwara, and special squad are investigating the case. We are making efforts to establish his identity. Necessary action will be taken after that.”

Meanwhile, the SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Padhi has suspended a Pantibadu servitor Chandan Samantara from temple duties.