Puri: In yet another incident of Police atrocities, a video purportedly showing male police officials, engaged in crowd control, misbehaving with woman devotees in front of Puri Srimandir has gone viral on social media sparking condemnation from all quarters.
Sources said the incident occurred on the night before the Kartik Purnima when devotees in large numbers were gathered on the Badadanda to enter the 12th-century shrine to witness the special avatar of the Trinity.
During the occasion, some women tried to break the barricade and run towards the temple but were immediately stopped by the police who were seen pushing and shoving the devotees to prevent them from entering the temple.
The entire incident which was captured in a video showed the male police officials shoving the women devotees, kicking and landing blows on them despite presence of lady police officials for crowd control at the spot.
While concerned police authorities are yet to comment on the matter, locals, devotees along with servitors have unanimously condemned the incident. While some cited police conduct was irresponsible, others have raised questions over the lack of adequate security arrangements for Kartik Purnima when lakhs of people throng the pilgrim city.
"State government assures to make arrangements for the welfare of Habishyalis during the month of Kartik, but such incidents are not assuring at all," said a local resident.