Puri: Suspension order of the nine servitors involved in last year's Niladri Bije fiasco was revoked by the managing committee of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Thursday after seeing change in their behaviour and conduct.
Earlier on July 17, 2016, during the Niladri Bije ritual of Lord Jagannath and his siblings, few servitors had allegedly helped some unauthorised persons to climb the chariots and had misbehaved with the Puri Collector Arvind Agarwal. Likewise, some other servitors were alleged of attacking media persons.
Agarwal had lodged two FIRs with Puri SP Sarthak Sarangi against the six servitors, who had misbehaved with him, abused him in foul language and even threatened to kill him during the ritual. Three cases had been registered in this connection. Two had been filed based on the report of the Puri Collector, while another case had been registered based on the report filed by the on-duty ASI.
Six servitors had been arrested for creating ruckus and attacking media persons leading to disruption of the ritual while nine other servitors were placed under suspension from Srimandir service for violating the ban on climbing the chariots and misbehaving with the Collector.
The managing committee today also decided to take action against the police officer accused of touching Devi Subhadra’s idol during the recent Niladri Bije ritual.
It has been alleged that on July 6, a police officer identified as Amulya Dhar, former Inspector-in-charge of Marine Police Station, touched the deity during the pahandi ceremony of the Niladri Bije ritual in the evening.
IG (Central Range) has been entrusted to conduct a detailed investigation into the allegation.