Assault on Puri Collector: 3 servitors seek anticipatory bail

Puri: Fearing arrest, three of the servitors of the Puri Sri Jagannath temple wanted in connection with the assault on Puri Collector Arvind Agarwal on Niladri Bije last week knocked the doors of the Orissa High Court seeking anticipatory bail today.

The three senior servitors, who were named in the FIR lodged by the Puri Collector alleging that he was threatened and misbehaved with, are Damodar Mahasuara, Jayakrusna Mahasuara and Harinarayan Khuntia.

Damodar Mahasuara and his brother Jayakrusna had allegedly abused the Puri Collector in filthy language and threatened to kill him when the latter tried to stop Damodar from taking his young daughter to the Taladhwaja chariot during the Niladri Bije last Sunday.

Earlier in the day, the Simha Dwara police has arrested two servitors on charges of misbehaviour with the collector. The arrested persons are Surya Narayan Pratihari and Raghunath Khuntia.

Source said police have identified 15 servitors from the CCTV footage who were allegedly involved in the act of indiscipline. Of them, only eight have been held, the sources added.

Puri SP Sarthak Sadangi said the police will file an appeal in a court seeking warrant against the absconding servitors. Besides, criminal cases will be initiated against the persons who shelter the absconders, he said.